Opposition to the nomination from Sen. John McCain, a decorated veteran and Senate legend who was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years and tortured, promises to deeply influence his colleagues. | Mark Wilson/Getty Images McCain urges Senate to reject Haspel for CIA

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Wednesday night came out against Gina Haspel’s bid to become CIA director and urged colleagues to join him, providing possible political cover to other undecided senators in both parties even as her nomination gains momentum.

McCain’s absence from the debate over the Haspel nomination as he receives cancer treatment in Arizona has been keenly felt by her critics at civil and human rights groups, who share his concerns about her role in the George W. Bush administration’s use of brutal interrogation tactics against detainees. Opposition to the nomination from McCain, a decorated veteran and Senate legend who was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years and tortured, promises to deeply influence his colleagues.


“I believe Gina Haspel is a patriot who loves our country and has devoted her professional life to its service and defense,” he said in a statement. “However, Ms. Haspel’s role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans is disturbing. Her refusal to acknowledge torture’s immorality is disqualifying.”

What remains unclear, after Haspel locked up two crucial swing votes despite a tense Wednesday confirmation hearing, is whether McCain’s comments can change the outlook for a once-troubled nomination that now appears on track. Haspel repeatedly declined on Wednesday to declare that the use of harsh interrogation tactics equivalent to torture, such as waterboarding, is disqualifying — but she did vow to not restart the use of those techniques if confirmed, a promise that helped win over some undecided senators.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) both said Wednesday that they would support Haspel, while Sen. Angus KIng (I-Maine) said he would oppose the nomination. Among the remaining undecided lawmakers whom McCain might help sway are Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who is close to his home-state colleague, and Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.).

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is a public opponent of Haspel in a Senate effectively divided 50-49 in light of McCain’s absence, meaning that Collins’ and Manchin’s support is enough to approve the nomination, assuming no opposing votes from Flake or Lee plus all undeclared Democrats.

“I know that those who used enhanced interrogation methods and those who approved them wanted to protect Americans from harm,” McCain said in his statement. “I appreciate their dilemma and the strain of their duty. But as I have argued many times, the methods we employ to keep our nation safe must be as right and just as the values we aspire to live up to and promote in the world.”