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Morell, who was deputy director of the CIA under President Barack Obama and twice served as the agency’s acting director, is a candidate for nomination for the full-time role under Biden, according to two sources familiar with the deliberations, who note that others remain in the mix for the job.
But Morell’s prospect as head of the CIA drew fierce criticism from members of Biden’s own party – namely Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, a member of the Intelligence Committee who will ultimately vote for. find out if a candidate for the post is confirmed.
“No apologist for torture can be confirmed as a director of the CIA. He’s a non-rookie,” Wyden told CNN, referring to Morell’s previous suggestions that the so-called ‘enhanced interrogation’ of the terrorists was both effective and moral – claims that go further than these. made by other officials who have come under scrutiny over the agency’s handling of detainees at black sites, including former director John Brennan and current director Gina Haspel.
Wyden’s opposition to Biden’s candidacy for Morell could jeopardize his chances of being hired for the job despite his name having long been pitched as a candidate. Several sources familiar with internal talks about the transition told CNN the decision remains on hold and there is no clear frontrunner for the role.
As such, Biden notably did not announce a nominee for CIA director on Tuesday despite the official unveiling of his picks for several other key national security positions, including his choice for director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, who faced criticism from progressives who accused her of complicity. in the CIA’s use of torture or “enhanced interrogation techniques” after 9/11.
Morell’s name has appeared several times in recent weeks as a possible choice for the director of the CIA, given his leadership experience at the agency. But while he has long been seen as the likely choice by some Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Wyden has made it clear that he will vote against Morell’s confirmation because of his public remarks on the issue of torture and resistance to congressional oversight.
A congressional aide said Morell’s previous comments about the CIA’s improved interrogation techniques and its previous resistance to congressional oversight were a problem.
A 2015 report produced by the staff of Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who was investigating the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program, criticized Morell for repeatedly contradicting the agency’s internal cables related to those efforts. to extract information from suspected Al Qaeda operatives and its references to studies that misinterpreted the findings on the effectiveness of measures like waterboarding.
Nick Shapiro, former CIA deputy chief of staff who currently serves as Morell’s spokesperson, rebutted Wyden’s claim, telling CNN: “Michael Morell is one of the smartest intelligence operatives , the most dedicated and hardworking we have. He has served both Democrats and Republicans for decades.
“Morell was in no way involved in the creation of the EIT program and he didn’t even hear about it until 2006, four years after its launch. He said publicly in a 2013 interview from ’60 (Minutes) ‘and wrote in his 2015 book that he believed waterboarding was indeed torture. “
“Morell thinks there were a lot of mistakes with the EIT program and wrote a lot about it,” Shapiro said.
Still, public involvement and support for the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program remains an issue for Morell and others who have already been appointed to senior intelligence positions by Biden.
Some progressives have questioned Haines’ record on sensitive issues and accused her of complicity in the CIA’s torture program.
While serving as Deputy Director of the CIA from 2013 to 2014, Haines decided not to punish agency staff accused of improperly accessing the computers of the Senate Intelligence Committee during his investigation into the CIA’s use of improved interrogation techniques – a dispute that has drawn criticism from Democrats on the panel.
She also expressed support for Haspel when she was nominated for the post in 2018 and was criticized for her involvement in the execution of CIA interrogation programs of the George W. Bush era, including those taken to the prison of the “black site” she allegedly managed. .
At the time, Haines’ support for Haspel put her at odds with many Democrats on the panel, and that remains a sticking point for some within the party.
“Haines has an unfortunate record of repeatedly covering up torture and torturers. His push for the maximalist drafting of the torture report, his refusal to discipline CIA personnel who hacked the Senate, and his loud support to Gina Haspel – who has even been touted by Trump’s White House as Democrats almost unanimously opposed the candidate for the head of the CIA – should be questioned during the confirmation process, “a David Segal, co-founder and executive director of Demand Progress Group, told CNN.
But Morell’s comments describing “torture” as a useful tool may be seen as tougher for some Democrats if he is appointed CIA director, raising more questions about Biden’s choice to head the agency in the coming years. days.
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