A Personal Plea in Support of Haspel’s Nomination

Observers counting potential Senate votes for the nominee to become the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency say Gina Haspel’s prospects look pretty good.  The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is scheduled to meet on Wednesday morning, May 16, to vote on recommending her nomination to the full Senate. 

Later this week or early next, the full Senate is expected to decide whether Haspel will be the first woman to lead the Agency.  Two Democratic Senators, Joe Machin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana have said their will support her.  Republican Senator Rand Paul has said he will not, and Senator John McCain’s health will likely prevent him from returning to Washington to cast a negative vote.  There is one Republican, Jeff Flake of Arizona who reportedly is still on the fence. Flake’s vote could be critical if any other Republicans change their minds and abandon the President’s nominee.