May 21 WATCH: Trump praises Gina Haspel, says new CIA director will ‘never back down’ in defending U.S. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is praising new CIA Director Gina Haspel at her swearing-in ceremony Monday. Trump spoke at CIA headquarters in Virginia, saying there was “no one in this country better qualified” for the job. Calling Haspel strong,… Continue reading
May 19 CIA’s Haspel can tap undercover work in Russian operations By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press Scrutiny of the 33-year spy career of new CIA director Gina Haspel has focused on her undercover role in the harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists, but she cut her teeth in intelligence operations against Russia. Continue reading
May 11 AP sources: White House aide dismisses John McCain view, says ‘he’s dying’ By Zeke Miller and Jill Colvin, Associated Press A White House official dismissed Sen. John McCain's opposition to President Donald Trump's CIA nominee, saying "it doesn't matter" because "he's dying anyway," two people in the room told The Associated Press. Continue reading
May 10 Even from afar, John McCain raises his voice against torture By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Republican Sen. John McCain remained at home in Arizona battling brain cancer as Wednesday's debate turned to the past use of enhanced interrogation techniques, now banned, that President Donald Trump has suggested perhaps should return. Continue reading
May 09 Watch 4:53 Gina Haspel vows never to resume CIA interrogation as Senate presses her on moral code Gina Haspel couldn't talk about her work for three decades. On Wednesday, she had to defend it. Haspel, who played pivotal roles in the agency's most controversial recent actions in the years after 9/11, promised to never restart brutal interrogation… Continue watching
May 09 Watch 7:59 The arguments for and against Gina Haspel as CIA director Should the Senate confirm CIA director nominee Gina Haspel? Nick Schifrin gets two views on her background and role in a controversial detention and interrogation program from John Rizzo, a former DIA chief legal officer, and retired U.S. Army Brig. Continue watching
May 08 WATCH: Gina Haspel, Trump’s pick for CIA director, says torture doesn’t work Gina Haspel, a 61-year-old career undercover spy who is currently acting CIA director, is expected to testify starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday. Watch live here. Continue reading
May 07 Trump defends CIA nominee, saying she is ‘tough on terror’ By Zeke Miller, Deb Riechmann, Associated Press President Donald Trump on Monday defended Gina Haspel, his nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency, dismissing debate over her involvement in a harsh interrogation program and arguing Democrats want her out because she "is too tough on terror."… Continue reading
May 03 Watch 8:49 Former CIA director: Trump doesn’t seem to base some decisions on objective reality In "The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in the Age of Lies," retired Gen. Michael Hayden critiques President Trump's campaign tactics, behavior and governing style, especially as it relates to the nation's secrets and spies. Hayden, a former director… Continue watching
Apr 20 Probe cleared Gina Haspel in destruction of waterboarding tapes, CIA memo says By Deb Reichmann, Associated Press A former top U.S. intelligence official says President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next CIA director was cleared of wrongdoing years ago. Continue reading