Everything you need to block Gina Haspel from becoming Trump’s CIA Director

Trump nominated a war criminal to lead the CIA.

Gina Haspel personally helped torture detainees in a secret CIA-run prison during the Bush administration. She then made sure the video evidence was destroyed.

Video on Haspel

Torture is illegal in all circumstances, without exception. It was illegal then and it’s illegal now. Gina Haspel carried out crimes but, instead of punishment, she’s getting a promotion. Unless we stop her. It’s up to the Senate to decide whether to confirm or reject Gina Haspel to lead the CIA. We can block her if Democrats vote together.

Thanks to you, Indivisible was able to cut down support for Mike Pompeo’s confirmation. Your calls helped secure opposition from key Democrats, even those who voted in support of Pompeo for CIA Director last year. We didn’t win that fight, but we know we can win this one. Gina Haspel’s nomination is already under scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans. If we pressure Democrats to hold the line, and keep Republicans like Rand Paul accountable, it will mean a major blow to Trump’s War Cabinet.

We cannot allow a war criminal to lead the CIA. Here’s how we’re going to #BlockHaspel:

Indivisible set up a toll-free number 855-980-2350 so you can easily call your senator directly and tell them to publicly oppose Haspel’s nomination.

Let’s get ready to light up the Senate phone lines this week.

- Indivisible

Samples script:

Caller: Hi, My name is [name] and I’m a constituent from [part of state] calling about Gina Haspel’s nomination as head of the CIA. I want Senator [name] to immediately and publicly commit to opposing this nomination. Gina Haspel carried out torture and destroyed the evidence. She is completely unqualified to lead the CIA. Will Senator [name] oppose her?

[IF STAFFER SAYS YES]

Staffer: Thank you for calling. Senator [name] shares your concerns and will be voting against this nomination.

Caller: I’m very glad to hear that—will [he/she] be making a public statement condemning this choice and urging [his/her] colleagues to oppose, as well?

Staffer: I can relay that to my boss.

Caller: Please do. Haspel is an unacceptable choice and it’s important for the senator not just to oppose her, but to use [his/her] platform to increase pressure for other senators. I’ll be watching for [his/her] statements.

[IF STAFFER SAYS NO]

Staffer: Thank you for calling. Senator [name] supports Gina Haspel’s nomination and admires her decades of public service. She did what she was asked to do by her country, in order to keep people safe.

Caller: That’s not acceptable. Torture was, and is, illegal no matter what. There are no exceptions and it’s a crime. “Following orders” is not a justification. Additionally, her cover-up of the crimes through destruction of video evidence is enough in itself for the Senator to oppose her. I urge [him/her] to re-think his position.

Staffer: I’ll relay that to the boss.

Caller: Yes, please do. I am very concerned about this nomination and will be checking back to see if the senator has changed [his/her] position.

Check out our Block Haspel resources page and help stop her nomination.

Tell the Senate: Block and resist torturer Gina Haspel as CIA director

The petition to the Senate reads: "Block and resist Trump's nomination of torturer Gina Haspel for CIA director." Add your name:

Donald Trump is assembling a war cabinet. John Bolton is such an extremist that a Republican-controlled Senate refused to confirm him as ambassador to the United Nations in 2005.1 Trump just made him national security adviser. CIA Director Mike Pompeo wants to destroy the Iran deal and supercharge domestic spying. Trump just nominated him to be secretary of state. Longtime CIA officer Gina Haspel ran a secret "black site" prison in Thailand and later destroyed the videotaped evidence of brutal waterboarding sessions.2 Trump has nominated her to take over as CIA chief. Trump does not need Senate approval to appoint Bolton, but Haspel must be confirmed. We have a chance to block her nomination and stop Trump’s war machine, but we have to make sure every Senate Democrat holds the line and that Republicans of good conscience join them. Tell the Senate: Block and resist Gina Haspel's confirmation as CIA director. Click here to sign the petition. Gina Haspel ran a secret prison in Thailand where CIA personnel brutally interrogated detainees with waterboarding, sleep deprivation, confinement in boxes and other torture techniques.3 In 2005, she signed off on an order to destroy videotapes of the torture sessions.4 A 2009 Senate report found that the torture that Haspel and other CIA officials oversaw after Sept. 11 never led to "imminent threat" intelligence that the CIA used to justify the practice.5 Tortured detainees made up information and often gave more useful information without being tortured.6The report also criticized the CIA for "inadequate and deeply flawed" management of the interrogation program, including improper screening and poor training of interrogators.7 Tell the Senate: Block and resist torturer Gina Haspel as CIA director. Click here to sign the petition. As of today, Haspel could not legally order CIA personnel to resume torturing suspects. A 2015 law reinforced that these interrogation techniques are illegal.8 But extraordinary rendition, in which prisoners are sent abroad to be held and possibly tortured by foreign governments, remains legal today.9 Just as disturbing, Trump has repeatedly said he wants to bring back waterboarding "and a hell of a lot worse."10We need government officials who will stand up to Trump's violent impulses and push for legal and effective intelligence gathering. If the United States is going to live up to its ideals of respecting human rights at home and around the world, we must draw a line somewhere – we cannot reward torturers with top government jobs. Yet Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he has not advised Democrats to oppose Haspel.11 Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who once opposed Haspel for a CIA appointment because of her past role in torture, has now said this of Haspel: "To the best of my knowledge she has been a good deputy director and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with her again."12 The comments from Sens. Schumer and Feinstein make it clear that without massive pressure, the Senate will confirm Haspel in a heartbeat. We need to stand up for human rights and block anyone who tortured detainees from being director of the CIA. Tell the Senate: Block and resist Gina Haspel's confirmation as CIA director. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/block-haspel?t=8&akid=27897%2E3130208%2EnUouYn - Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action Add your name: References: The New York Times Editorial Board, "Yes, John Bolton really is that dangerous," March 23, 2018. Matthew Rosenberg, "New C.I.A. Deputy Director, Gina Haspel, had role in torture," The New York Times, Feb. 2, 2017. Adam Goldman, "Gina Haspel, Trump’s Choice for C.I.A., Played Role in Torture Program," The New York Times, March 13, 2018. Matthew Rosenberg, "New C.I.A. Deputy Director, Gina Haspel, had role in torture." NBC News, "Senate report finds CIA interrogation tactics were ineffective," Dec. 9, 2014. Ibid. Ibid. Rupert Stone, "Has Obama banned torture? Yes and no," Al Jazeera America, Dec. 1, 2015. Ibid. Sarah Margon, "Giving Up the High Ground," Foreign Affairs, Feb. 13, 2018. Deirdre Shesgreen and Erin Kelly, "Trump turmoil: Contentious Senate confirmation hearings await Pompeo and Haspel," USA Today, March 13, 2018. Patricia Zengerle, "Senate Intel Chairman Backs Haspel to Head CIA, Democrats Concerned," US News & World Report, March 13, 2018.