Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinBiden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court McConnell says Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote MORE (D-Calif.) said Thursday that she will vote against CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel as leader of the spy agency.

“This nomination is bigger than one person. The torture program was illegal at the time based on international treaties. ... I believe those who were intimately involved should not lead the agency," Feinstein said in a statement.

She added that the "CIA’s Rendition, Detention and Interrogation Program is one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history and it must not be repeated."

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"For the Senate to confirm someone so involved with the program to highest position at the CIA would in effect tell the world that we approve of what happened, and I absolutely do not," she said.





Feinstein is a former chairwoman and current member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In 2014, she gave a highly watched speech from the Senate floor accusing the CIA of spying on Senate staffers compiling a report on the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” techniques.

She also went head-to-head with the Obama administration for years urging them to release the so-called torture report.

Feinstein is up for reelection in 2018 and facing a primary challenger from the left. She faced a torrent of criticism from the left earlier this year after she said Haspel had been a "good" deputy director.

Haspel faces a narrow path to confirmation with at least two Republican senators, Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill MORE of Kentucky and Arizona’s John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE, opposed to her nomination.

If Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE (W.Va.) is the only Democrat to support Haspel, she will need every other Republican in her corner.