Gina Haspel confirmed as CIA director in 54 to 45 Senate vote

The Senate confirmed Gina Haspel as director of the Central Intelligence Agency on Thursday, in a 54 to 45 vote. Haspel, who has worked at the agency for more than 30 years, becomes its first female director. Republicans Rand Paul and Jeff Flake joined most Democrats in voting against Haspel, whom President Donald Trump nominated in April to run the CIA. This week, Haspel said the CIA should not have undertaken a post-9/11 detention and interrogation program critics say amounted to torture. GOP Sen. John McCain, who was absent from the vote as he battles cancer, urged his fellow senators to reject her nomination.