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WASHINGTON – Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA, is running into confirmation problems in the Senate, and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., – a member of the Senate intelligence committee — is among her detractors.

Haspel, currently the CIA’s deputy director, is under fire for her role in the CIA’s operation of secret “black sites,” including one in Thailand at which she oversaw the waterboarding of prisoners suspected in the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Heinrich said Haspel’s role in the waterboarding – condemned as torture by some members of Congress and human rights experts – is “deeply troubling.” Republican Sens. John McCain and Rand Paul have also signaled their displeasure with Haspel’s nomination.

“Her record makes her unsuitable for a leadership role at the agency, let alone to serve as the director,” Heinrich said. “We should not be asked to confirm a nominee whose background cannot be publicly discussed and who cannot then be held accountable for her actions. The American public deserves to know who its leaders are.”

Trump condoned waterboarding and other forms of torture on the 2016 campaign trail. Haspel would be the first woman to lead the CIA if confirmed.

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Heinrich and Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who also sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, have asked the CIA to declassify information related to Haspel’s background on torture and human rights.

RUSSIAN MEDDLING: Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said Wednesday that it is “clear” that Russians meddled with American “democracy,” but he wasn’t prepared to back a conclusion this week by the House intelligence committee that there is no evidence of collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russian operatives.

On Monday, the Republican-led committee said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not aiming to get Donald Trump elected and that there doesn’t appear to have been any collusion, and that the House investigation is over. “The House intelligence committee worked within their jurisdiction to seek out any wrongdoings,” Pearce said, noting that he would reserve judgment on the question of collusion until the committee’s full 150-page report is released. “It has been made clear over time that Russian nationals have attempted to disrupt our democracy. This report, however, focuses on the question of collusion. I look forward to reading through the details once it’s released.”

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., viewed the GOP’s announcement with skepticism about what she called a “partisan decision” to end the probe.

“Unfortunately, it is not surprising that House Republican conclusions regarding Russian interference in our elections contradicted the findings of every single U.S. intelligence agency,” she said. “Russia attacked us by trying to infiltrate our election systems, stealing information from party committees, and systematically disseminating false propaganda in order to support their preferred candidate.”

Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., said House Republicans closed their inquiry “prematurely” in “a politically motivated attempt to suppress the truth.” He also rejected the notion that Russian interference was not intended to help Trump’s campaign.

“This contradicts the firm conclusions of the entire U.S. intelligence community.”

Michael Coleman: mcoleman@abqjournal.com