Senate Intelligence Committee member James Risch, R-Idaho, said at the beginning of his questions for CIA Director-nominee Gina Haspel she already had his vote, and commented after the hearing he will sleep better at night if she is confirmed.
"On the committee, all of us hear things that don't let us sleep well at night at times," Risch told Fox News' "Outnumbered Overtime." "If she is confirmed, and I'm confident she will be, I will sleep better at night."
Risch added Haspel is getting "pummeled" by Democrats on the committee, even though she has the support of both Republicans and Democrats who have served as director.
"I deal regularly with the people of the Intelligence Committee, of the intelligence partners . . . they support Gina Haspel for the position," he said. "Everyone thinks highly of her."
However, Democrats are slamming her because whatever President Donald Trump "has anything to do with, they go after," said Risch. "That is what this is all about. There is nobody more qualified to be head of the agency than Gina Haspel."
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., however, was supportive, noted show host Harris Faulkner.
"For a country that has a target on its back the way the United States has had since 9/11 and probably will for a long time to be as safe as we have in a most troubled world, in a most dangerous world with a terrorist mentality, I want to thank you on behalf of every West Virginian in the country for the job you all do," Manchin told her.
He confirmed later in the afternoon he would vote for Haspel, reports Fox News.
Risch said he agrees with Manchin's assessment of the veteran CIA officer.
"I have known her and worked with her for 10 years, as long as I have been on the Intel Committee," the senator said. "I met with her here; I met with her in the field. She has always been very straightforward, very truthful."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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