Washington
In his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, the formerly bombastic Pompeo was more measured, reflecting the new role he’s about to take on leading what he called “the world’s premier espionage organization.”
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Pompeo in part because the three-term Republican lawmaker’s aggressive views on national security were close to his own.
But in answering questions by members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Pompeo took a more gentle approach to the issues on which he’s been outspoken in the past: the Iran nuclear deal, National Security Agency surveillance, the CIA’s enhanced interrogation of terrorism suspects and even gay rights and climate change.
He also didn’t hesitate to break with Trump on a few notable issues, including Russia, the value of WikiLeaks and the credibility of the CIA itself.
“The director of the CIA is not a policymaker,” Pompeo said in the 39-page questionnaire he submitted to the committee. “My previous political positions will in no way influence CIA analysis or how I present that analysis to policymakers.”
For example, Pompeo had criticized a Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA’s use of harsh interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. When the report was released in 2014, he defended the constitutionality of the program and the personnel who carried it out.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., asked Pompeo whether he would comply if the president ordered him to restart the agency’s use of harsh interrogation techniques.
“Absolutely not,” Pompeo replied.