Republicans Say Haspel Won't Have Issues Being Confirmed as CIA Director

GOP leaders think Gina Haspel will be confirmed as CIA director with the help of at least eight Democrats, Politico reports.

Haspel reportedly sought to withdraw her nomination over concerns about her role in the agency’s interrogation program, and on Friday told the White House she would step aside to avoid a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing Wednesday.

But the White House talked her down, and legislative affairs director Marc Short said Monday that during their meeting Haspel was “100 percent committed to being the best nominee we could find.”

Haspel, the first woman tapped to head the agency, will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. If the committee advances her nomination, she will need 50 votes to secure confirmation in the Senate.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin suggested he was open to voting for Haspel, and Politico says other Democrats who could back her include Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark Warner of Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Bill Nelson of Florida.

Haspel's role in the destruction of the tapes is one major sticking point for senators over her nomination. Her boss, then-head of CIA clandestine service Jose Rodriguez, ordered the destruction.

Haspel was absolved of wrongdoing, and the CIA last week declassified a report from former acting CIA Director Mike Morell stating Haspel "did not destroy the tapes . . . did not oversee the destruction of the tapes and . . . did not order the destruction of the tapes."

“She’ll have a few Democrats vote for her. It won’t be an overwhelming vote, none of these are anymore,” said Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of GOP leadership. “Some Democrats will have a hard time not supporting the most prepared person ever to be nominated for this job.”

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