CIA/NOMINATIONS/RAND PAUL/STATE/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) said Wednesday [3-14-18] he would oppose the nominations of Mike Pompeo to be secretary of state and Gina Haspel to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.
The announcement by Mr. Paul, the first Republican to oppose either nominee, makes it likely that Democratic support will be needed for both Mr. Pompeo and Ms. Haspel to be confirmed in the Senate.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired Rex Tillerson, the current secretary of state, and said he planned to replace Mr. Tillerson with Mr. Pompeo, who is currently the CIA director. Ms. Haspel, currently the agency’s deputy director, would be the first woman to lead the CIA, if she is confirmed.”
–Kristina Peterson, “Sen. Rand Paul to Oppose Trump’s Nominations for State and CIA,” The New York Times online, Mar. 14, 2018