Gina Haspel could be confirmed as soon as this week if senators agree to hold a speedy vote. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Senate panel votes in favor of Haspel's nomination for CIA director

The Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday voted 10 to 5 in favor of the nomination of Gina Haspel to be CIA director, committee leaders said.

Haspel could be confirmed as soon as this week if senators agree to hold a speedy vote. Haspel has already garnered enough Democratic support to be confirmed on the Senate floor despite opposition from GOP Sen. Rand Paul.


Just two Democrats on the committee, ranking member Mark Warner of Virginia and vulnerable incumbent Joe Manchin of West Virginia, supported Haspel in the panel vote. All Republicans supported her. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said she was the "most qualified" candidate for the job.

"I believe she is someone who can and will stand up to the president if ordered to do something illegal or immoral — like a return to torture," Warner said.

Haspel picked up several key votes this week that put her on course to be confirmed, though she could have the least support in the Senate of any CIA director in history. Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Warner all came out for her on Tuesday, pushing her over the majority threshold.

It was not immediately clear whether Paul or another vociferous opponent, such as Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), would seek to delay the vote. Any one senator could delay her confirmation for several days, and Wyden blasted her as she cleared the committee for keeping classified some information about her past involvement in harsh interrogation techniques.

“I have very grave concerns about Ms. Haspel and believe her background makes her unsuitable to be CIA director. My concerns are wide-ranging and are based on still-classified matters that are far broader than what has been reported in the press," Wyden said.

