Tell Senators to #BlockHaspel as Director of the CIA

On May 9th, Gina Haspel will have her confirmation hearing for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). She played a prominent role in the CIA’s covert torture program, which subjected suspected terrorists to brutal “interrogation” methods including torture. And she wrote a memo for her boss to destroy evidence of torture. This does not bode well for how she will lead the intelligence service in Latin America and around the world.

The use of torture runs through grim chapters in Latin American history—from the dirty wars in Argentina and Chile to the civil wars in Central America. And many of those security forces engaged in torture were trained and equipped by the Pentagon and the CIA. To this day, the haunting legacy of torture remains. For instance in Mexico, 64 percent of respondents to an Amnesty International survey said they strongly disagreed that they would be safe from torture if taken into custody by authorities.

Making the head of the agency someone known for supervising a “black site’ where torture took place and for destroying  evidence sends a deeply concerning message. If Haspel becomes director of the CIA, how will the U.S. stand up against torture in Latin America and around the globe?

Rather than a having a track record like Haspel’s, nominees to direct the CIA should have a history of respecting human rights and adhering to U.S. and international law.

TAKE ACTION. Tell the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which will take the first step to confirm or deny her appointment, to OPPOSE Haspel’s confirmation before they vote on Wednesday.

TAKE ACTION:

If you have a senator on the committee, please call them! Otherwise, call any (and many) of the members—paying special attention to the names in purple.

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence	Richard Burr North Carolina Chairman (202) 224-3154	Mark Warner Virginia Vice Chairman (202) 224-2023	James Risch Idaho (202) 224-2752
Marco Rubio Florida (202) 224-3041	Susan Collins Maine (202)224-2523	Roy Blunt Missouri (202) 224-5721	James Lankford Oklahoma (202) 224-5754
Tom Cotton Arkansas (202) 224-2353	John Cornyn Texas (202) 224-2934	Dianne Feinstein California (202) 224-3841	Ron Wyden Oregon (202) 224-5244
Martin Heinrich New Mexico (202) 224-5521	Angus King Maine (202) 224-5344	Joe Manchin West Virginia (202) 224-3954	Kamala Harris California (202) 224-3553

Script:
“Gina Haspel’s confirmation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency poses a real threat to human rights and international law across the world. Her record of supervising torture and the cover up of it sends the wrong message to the international community. I strongly urge your boss, as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, to oppose her confirmation.”

Now that you’ve called, reach them and your network on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!