• Latest
  • Trending
GOP Sen. Rand Paul opposes Trump nominees Pompeo, Haspel; could imperil their confirmation

GOP Sen. Rand Paul opposes Trump nominees Pompeo, Haspel; could imperil their confirmation

March 15, 2018
4 dead, 52 arrested after Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol

4 dead, 52 arrested after Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol

January 7, 2021

China criticizes US order against dealing with Chinese apps

January 6, 2021

US has dual policy on Afghan peace process: MPs

January 5, 2021
‘Good riddance,’ says China snub Germany leaving UN Security Council

‘Good riddance,’ says China snub Germany leaving UN Security Council

December 25, 2020
Sharon Osbourne reveals she tested positive for COVID-19

Sharon Osbourne reveals she tested positive for COVID-19

December 15, 2020
Apple Adding Privacy Fact Labels to App Store Items

Apple Adding Privacy Fact Labels to App Store Items

December 15, 2020
More Republicans finally accept Biden win after U.S. Electoral College certifies vote

More Republicans finally accept Biden win after U.S. Electoral College certifies vote

December 15, 2020
Rhode Island casts 4 Electoral College votes for Biden

Rhode Island casts 4 Electoral College votes for Biden

December 15, 2020
Rhode Island School To Stagger Return After Holiday Break

Rhode Island School To Stagger Return After Holiday Break

December 15, 2020
Twitter, Facebook face labeling test on Trump’s election posts

Twitter, Facebook face labeling test on Trump’s election posts

November 4, 2020
Democratic hopes to flip US Senate dim as red wall holds for now

Democratic hopes to flip US Senate dim as red wall holds for now

November 4, 2020
US election: What happens next?

US election: What happens next?

November 4, 2020
Monday, January 25, 2021
No Result
View All Result
  • Region
    • Delaware
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
  • U.S. News
  • National Security
    • Defense
    • Politics
    • Terrorism
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • North & South Korea
    • Canada
    • Europe
      • Germany
      • Russian Federation
    • Latin America
      • Mexico
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Science
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MLB
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Mets
    • NBA
      • Boston Celtics
      • Brooklyn Nets
    • NFL
      • New England Patriots
      • Philadelphia Eagles
      • New York Giants
      • New York Jets
    • NHL
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • History
    • Lifestyle & Family
    • Music
    • Religion
    • Television & Movies
    • Theatre
    • Travel
      • Great Outdoors
      • Rhode Island Travel
    • Women
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Green News
    • Greenpeace
    • Oceans & Marinelife
    • Wildlife
  • Region
    • Delaware
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
  • U.S. News
  • National Security
    • Defense
    • Politics
    • Terrorism
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • North & South Korea
    • Canada
    • Europe
      • Germany
      • Russian Federation
    • Latin America
      • Mexico
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Science
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MLB
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Mets
    • NBA
      • Boston Celtics
      • Brooklyn Nets
    • NFL
      • New England Patriots
      • Philadelphia Eagles
      • New York Giants
      • New York Jets
    • NHL
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • History
    • Lifestyle & Family
    • Music
    • Religion
    • Television & Movies
    • Theatre
    • Travel
      • Great Outdoors
      • Rhode Island Travel
    • Women
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Green News
    • Greenpeace
    • Oceans & Marinelife
    • Wildlife
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

GOP Sen. Rand Paul opposes Trump nominees Pompeo, Haspel; could imperil their confirmation

March 15, 2018
in National Security, Politics
0
Home National Security
Post Views: 196

 

Republican Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday that he will oppose President Trump’s nominations of Mike Pompeo to be secretary of State and Gina Haspel to be CIA director.

The Kentucky senator said he would do everything he can to block the nominees, and did not rule out the possibility of mounting a filibuster. He serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will vote on whether to recommend Pompeo’s confirmation to the full Senate.

Paul’s opposition — the first announced by a Republican senator — underscores that both of Trump’s nominees face contentious confirmation hearings in the Senate.

RelatedPosts

Trump honors IS-fighting dog Conan at the White House

Trump adds a dismal dimension to the US-China trade dispute

Ilhan Omar on her 9/11 comments, Trump, and US-Saudi relations

Trump tells France’s Macron U.S. concerned with proposed digital services tax

Stocks slip from record highs after Trump says ‘long way to go’ on trade talks with China

The senator said he cannot vote for either candidate based on their past support for using torture techniques to interrogate enemy combatants and suspected terrorists. That issue is at the heart of the controversy over both nominees, and has already led several Democrats — including Ron Wyden of Oregon and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois — to come out against them.

Paul said he is opposing Haspel, the CIA’s current deputy director, because she participated in the agency’s torture program under former president George W. Bush. She also reportedly ran a secret prison in Thailand in 2002 where terrorism suspects were waterboarded and subjected to other so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques.”

Shortly after Haspel became deputy director, senators also raised questions about her drafting of a cable that called for the destruction of taped CIA interrogations in 2002 at that secret Thai prison.

“I find it just amazing that anyone would consider having this woman at the head of the CIA,” Paul said, citing reports that Haspel showed “joyful glee at someone who is being tortured.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, also has expressed misgivings about Haspel, but supports Pompeo.

“The torture of detainees in U.S. custody during the last decade was one of the darkest chapters in American history,” McCain said Tuesday. “Ms. Haspel needs to explain the nature and extent of her involvement in the CIA’s interrogation program during the confirmation process.”

Paul, who was the lone GOP vote against confirming Pompeo to be CIA director in 2017, said he opposes Pompeo’s nomination to be Secretary of State because Pompeo has said that he did not consider “enhanced interrogation techniques” to be torture.

During his confirmation hearing to be CIA director last year, Pompeo said he would “absolutely not” bring back those techniques. However, in response to written questions from members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he said he would review the ban on waterboarding if the ban was shown to impede the collection of “vital intelligence.”

Paul also objected to Pompeo’s support for the Iraq War and his hawkish position on Iran. Pompeo has said that military strikes on Tehran would be more effective than diplomacy.

“I’m perplexed by the nomination of people who love the Iraq War so much that they would advocate for a war with Iran next,” Paul said. “I think it goes against most of the things President Trump campaigned on.”

As a candidate, Trump criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton’s support for the Iraq War and pledged to stop dragging the U.S. into foreign conflicts.

Paul’s opposition to Pompeo could prevent the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from approving him. Republicans have a slim 11-10 advantage on the committee, and Paul’s “no” vote could allow Democrats to vote down Pompeo’s nomination. However, Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., could still ask Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to bring the nomination to the Senate floor for a vote.

The Senate voted 66-32 in January 2017 to confirm Pompeo as CIA director, and Republicans believe they will be able to muster at least the 51 votes needed to confirm him as secretary of State. Haspel’s fate appears less certain.

Trump nominated Pompeo and Haspel for the new jobs Tuesday, after abruptly firing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Source :
usatoday
Tags: confirmationGOPHaspelopposesPompeoRand PaulTrump
ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

4 dead, 52 arrested after Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol
Featured

4 dead, 52 arrested after Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol

January 7, 2021
Featured

US has dual policy on Afghan peace process: MPs

January 5, 2021
‘Good riddance,’ says China snub Germany leaving UN Security Council
Asia

‘Good riddance,’ says China snub Germany leaving UN Security Council

December 25, 2020
More Republicans finally accept Biden win after U.S. Electoral College certifies vote
Featured

More Republicans finally accept Biden win after U.S. Electoral College certifies vote

December 15, 2020
Rhode Island casts 4 Electoral College votes for Biden
Featured

Rhode Island casts 4 Electoral College votes for Biden

December 15, 2020
Next Post
Prominent US neo-Nazi arrested on domestic violence charge

Prominent US neo-Nazi arrested on domestic violence charge

Translate

Popular Post

4 dead, 52 arrested after Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol
Featured

4 dead, 52 arrested after Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol

January 7, 2021
0

The chaotic and violent scene unfolded at the US Capitol as supporters of President Donald Trump swarmed the building to...

Read more
Mattis to Reassure Nervous Asian Allies

Mattis to Reassure Nervous Asian Allies

October 13, 2017
Asian Company Invest In America As Trump Takes Office

Asian Company Invest In America As Trump Takes Office

October 13, 2017
Trump lost: 9th Circuit Court declines restoring travel ban

Trump lost: 9th Circuit Court declines restoring travel ban

October 13, 2017
Central Intelligence: Gina Haspel new Deputy chief

Central Intelligence: Gina Haspel new Deputy chief

October 13, 2017
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

Varnum Continental is part of Varnum Continental Media Group LLC, which daily news around the globe.

© 2011 Varnum Continental

No Result
View All Result
  • Region
    • Delaware
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
  • U.S. News
  • National Security
    • Defense
    • Politics
    • Terrorism
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • North & South Korea
    • Canada
    • Europe
      • Germany
      • Russian Federation
    • Latin America
      • Mexico
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Science
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MLB
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Mets
    • NBA
      • Boston Celtics
      • Brooklyn Nets
    • NFL
      • New England Patriots
      • Philadelphia Eagles
      • New York Giants
      • New York Jets
    • NHL
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • History
    • Lifestyle & Family
    • Music
    • Religion
    • Television & Movies
    • Theatre
    • Travel
      • Great Outdoors
      • Rhode Island Travel
    • Women
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Green News
    • Greenpeace
    • Oceans & Marinelife
    • Wildlife

© 2011 Varnum Continental