Washington, May 18: Gina Haspel, 61 has become the first woman director of the American Spy Agency CIA. Her appointment was confirmed by the US Senate on Thursday ending the bruising confirmation fight centred on her ties to the spy agency’s past use of water boarding and other brutal interrogation techniques.
According to Reuter, Gina Haspel is 33-year veteran at the CIA and is currently serving as its acting director. The US Senate voted her appointment 51-43 in the 100-member chamber.
She was cleared for this top post in the spy agency despite stiff opposition over her links to the CIA’s use of harsh interrogation methods like waterboarding, a type of simulated drowning widely considered torture after 9/11 WTC attack.
Gina Haspel served as CIA Station Chief in Thailand. Republican Senator John McCain, who is battling Cancer, has urged the senators not to clear her name. Clearing her name would send a wrong message, he said.
Haspel also had strong support from Republican President Donald Trump's administration, many current and former intelligence officials and a wide range of lawmakers, including Democrats.