Sen. Kaine Opposes Haspel Nomination for CIA

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., announced on Friday that he will oppose the nomination of Gina Haspel for CIA director, The Hill is reporting.

Kaine cited Haspel’s role in the agency’s "enhanced interrogation" program as his reason for not supporting her. Haspel, the deputy director of the agency, had met with Kaine on Thursday.

"I believe her role in the agency’s use of torture and efforts to destroy evidence of it was neither minor nor incidental," he said. "In particular, I was especially disturbed that she personally wrote a cable ordering the destruction of videotape evidence of the agency’s use of torture."

His decision came after Haspel testified on Wednesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., became the first Democrat to publicly support Haspel, saying she is "the real deal."

"I encourage all my colleagues to sincerely vote for this lady because she is the best," he said.

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