Wyden: Haspel CIA hearing will make mockery of oversight

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement Thursday on news the committee will hold a hearing May 9 on Gina Haspel’s nomination to lead the Central Intelligence Agency:

“Unless the CIA declassifies and makes public specific information about Gina Haspel’s background, proceeding with this hearing will make a mockery of the Senate’s constitutional responsibilities with regard to nominations,” Wyden said.

“There is critical information about Ms. Haspel’s background that the American people need to see, and that can be declassified without compromising sources and methods. Agreeing to the CIA’s cover-up and pushing ahead with this nomination represents a true abdication of the Senate’s oversight role.”