One hundred and nine retired admirals and generals all signed an April 23 letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to reject the nomination of Gina Haspel as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
The flag officers, which include former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Hugh H. Shelton, object to Haspel’s nomination because of her role in supporting torture of prisoners held in U.S. custody.
“We are deeply troubled by the prospect of someone who appears to have been intimately involved in torture being elevated to one of the most important positions of leadership in the intelligence community,” the letter stated.
The signees also expressed concern about Haspel’s possible involvement in the destruction of videotapes depicting torture of persons while held in U.S. custody. She allegedly did so in the face of objections by senior intelligence, Department of Justice and White House officials.
“This disregard for lawful checks on the CIA’s power is troubling,” the officers stated.
“It would send a terrible signal to confirm as the next Director of the CIA someone who was so intimately involved in this dark chapter of our nation’s history.”
The letter first appeared on the web site of Human Rights First, an advocacy organization.
