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Sen. King: I won't vote for Haspel

King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, says he does not believe Haspel is the right person to lead the CIA.
Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 09: U.S. Sen. Angus King (ID-ME) speaks during a confirmation hearing for CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel before the Senate (Select) Committee on Intelligence May 9, 2018 in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine says he will vote against President Donald Trump's nominee for CIA director.

King said Wednesday that Gina Haspel is an experienced and respected intelligence officer. But he says he must also weigh issues regarding her role in the CIA's now-defunct harsh interrogation program and the destruction of videotapes showing some interrogation sessions.

King says that the CIA, under acting director Haspel's leadership, has been slow to disclose information about her career.

He also complained that some of her responses during Wednesday's confirmation hearing were "narrowly crafted and evasive."

King says a vote for Haspel would, in essence, be a condoning of the destruction of the tapes, which occurred when Congress was starting to look into the interrogation program.

King caucuses with the Democrats.

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