CIA/NOMINATIONS/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee voted on Wednesday [5-16-18] to approve President Donald Trump’s nominee to be CIA director, Gina Haspel, and she is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate as soon as next week. The panel voted 10-5 behind closed doors to approve the nomination, which was expected after two of its seven Democrats, Vice Chairman Mark Warner and Joe Manchin, said they would join the panel’s eight Republicans in backing Haspel. Despite criticism – including from Republican Senators Rand Paul and John McCain – because of ties to the CIA’s former harsh interrogation program for terrorism suspects, Haspel is expected to become the first female director of the spy agency. Senator Richard Burr, the committee’s Republican chairman, said in a statement that Haspel is the best person to lead the agency, saying she ‘has acted morally, ethically, and legally’ during her career.”
-Patricia Zengerle, “Senate panel advances Trump nominee to lead CIA,” Reuters, May 16, 2018, 6:44 am