Former Obama aide: Trump turning Haspel nomination into referendum on ‘dark chapter in our history’

A top national security aide to former President Obama is accusing President Trump of turning the confirmation process for his nominee to lead the CIA into a referendum on the agency’s detention and interrogation program.

“By signaling that he believes that torture is getting ‘tough on terror’ and that’s why he nominated Haspel, he is making her hearing and confirmation a referendum on a dark chapter in our history that should be over,” former White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes wrote on Twitter on Monday.

By signaling that he believes that torture is getting “tough on terror” and that’s why he nominated Haspel, he is making her hearing and confirmation a referendum on a dark chapter in our history that should be over. . https://t.co/tr3rR3wNEd

— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) May 7, 2018

{mosads}Rhodes was referring an early morning tweet from Trump in which he slammed criticism levied against Gina Haspel, who is slated to appear in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.

“My highly respected nominee for CIA Director, Gina Haspel, has come under fire because she was too tough on Terrorists,” the president wrote on Twitter.

“Think of that, in these very dangerous times, we have the most qualified person, a woman, who Democrats want OUT because she is too tough on terror. Win Gina!”

Haspel, who briefly ran a “black site” prison in Thailand where harsh interrogations were performed, is expected to undergo intense scrutiny from senators over her role in the CIA’s detention and interrogation program.  She reportedly offered to retract her nomination last week as the White House prepared to increase its push for her confirmation.

Trump tapped Haspel to serve as the agency’s new director once he appointed former CIA Director Mike Pompeo to be the new secretary of State. 

The Senate voted 57-42 to confirm Pompeo late last month.