Gina Haspel tells Senate panel she won't let the CIA resume abusive interrogations - latimes

President Trump's nominee for CIA director, Gina Haspel, will face a contentious confirmation hearing on Wednesday morning as senators debate her background with the agency's interrogation program.

"I want to be clear," Haspel told the Senate Intelligence Committee at her confirmation hearing. "Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program."

After a 33-year career spent almost entirely undercover, Haspel pitched herself to the committee as a intelligence veteran who has the loyalty of the CIA workforce and the knowledge to run its espionage and other operations around the globe.

"I know CIA like the back of my hand," she said.

Haspel's confirmation is expected to hinge on how she answers questions about counterterrorism operations after the Al Qaeda attacks of 2001, including her role running a then-secret CIA "black site" prison in Thailand in 2002 where suspects were waterboarded. - Read More

Gina Haspel tells Senate panel she won't let the CIA resume abusive interrogations

Protesters line up before confirmation hearing for Trump's nominee to be CIA director