Gina Haspel Confirmation Hearing: 5 Most Telling Quotes

WASHINGTON, DC — Senate lawmakers grilled Gina Haspel Wednesday about her time in the Central Intelligence Agency and her future plans for the secretive agency — including whether she'll renew harsh post-9/11 torture methods.

Haspel, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA, promised at her confirmation hearing not to bring back interrogation programs and said controversial torture tapes that purportedly show the torture of Al Qaeda detainees were destroyed over security reasons. Haspel oversaw a secret so-called "black site" in Thailand in 2002. People suspected of being terrorists were tortured using techniques including suffocation by waterboarding.

You can watch the hearing in its entirety here.

Here are five telling quotes from Haspel's hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

1. “I understand that what many people around the country want to know about are my views on CIA's former detention and interrogation program. Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program.”

Haspel, 61, dispelled notions that she would bring back controversial torture and detention programs, which were prevalent under the George W. Bush administration. She said the agency "learned some tough lessons," particularly involving tackling missions that fall outside their expertise. She also said she doesn't believe torture works, which would appear to conflict with the president's own beliefs. She did note they received “valuable information” from Al Qaeda detainees who were interrogated.

It's unclear whether the comment will satisfy Democrats, who were hoping she'd clearly reject her involvement in torture.

2. "I think you will find me a typical middle-class American."

Haspel tried to paint herself as an everyday American just like you who has a “strong sense of right and wrong." She referred to herself as an Air Force "brat" from Kentucky who happened to get lucky and land a job at the CIA. The statement garnered strong reactions on Twitter, with people noting Haspel — with more than three decades in America's most secretive organization and who oversaw torture sessions — is anything but your average citizen.

3. “I joined CIA in 1985 as a case officer in the clandestine service. From my first days in training, I had a knack for the nuts and bolts of my profession. I excelled in finding and acquiring secret information that I obtained in brush passes, dead drops, or in meetings in dusty alleys of third world capitals.”

Haspel says she knows the CIA "like the back of her hand," and even early on knew she was good at her job. She has been asked to do a variety of things in her time at the agency, which she believes will help her lead the agency.

4. "I did not appear on the tapes."

Lawmakers aggressively questioned Haspel about her role in the destruction of more than 90 videotapes that purportedly show the torture of Al Quada detainees. There were whispers that she actually appeared in the tapes, some of which were recorded while she was overseeing the facility in Thailand. But that wasn't the case Haspel said. The CIA ordered the tapes be destroyed days after a Senate inquiry was announced, but Haspel said she didn't know about the order. She knew only about "disagreement" over the issue of the tapes outside the agency.

5. "Senator, my only loyalty is to the American people and the constitution of the United States."

Haspel's response was to a question about whether she thought Trump would ask for a personal pledge of loyalty, as former FBI Director James Comey has alleged. Haspel replied that she has worked closely with Trump and doesn't believe he would do that. She said she's "honor-bound" and will work hard to deliver the "best performance and intelligence CIA can deliver."

Photo credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images