Trump must withdraw Haspel CIA nomination

As leaders in Amnesty International in Iowa, we call on President Donald Trump to withdraw his nomination of Gina Haspel to the post of director of the Central Intelligence Agency pending a criminal investigation into her alleged role in torture and other crimes under international law committed in a former program of secret detention run by the agency.

If allegations of Haspel's involvement in torture and enforced disappearances  - and in the destruction of evidence of such crimes  - are true, she would be entirely unsuitable to lead the CIA.

However, it is not possible to get to the truth without the necessary investigation of her role in the secret detention program and the declassification of information surrounding the crimes in question.

President Donald Trump must withdraw her nomination while this fact-finding proceeds.

The risk to human rights posed by this situation -  not least under a President who has publicly voiced his support for torture - is clear. Without transparency and full accountability for past human rights violations, future recurrences become all the more likely. Torture under any circumstances is a violation of human rights.

If you would like to take action, call your two Senators via the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to vote no on Gina Haspel for CIA director unless her alleged involvement in torture is fully investigated and all relevant secret information about her role in the CIA's detention program is declassified.

Alice Dahle, Chair

Women's Human Rights Coordination Group

Mike Wyrick

Legislative Coordinator

Mary Sand

Area Coordinator for Iowa

Amnesty International