Congresswoman Lee’s Statement on Firing of Rex Tillerson, Nominations of Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the firing of Rex Tillerson and the nominations of Mike Pompeo to serve as Secretary of State and Gina Haspel as CIA Director:
"President Trump has chosen the worst possible time to upend our national security and diplomatic agencies. Rather than sowing chaos within his own cabinet, President Trump should be working with seasoned experts to prepare for the high-stakes talks with North Korea and addressing Russia’s attempt to undermine our democracy.
“While Rex Tillerson’s demoralizing tenure at the State Department did little to make our world a safer place, Mike Pompeo’s track record in the House and at the CIA raise serious red flags about his commitment to diplomacy and development. We need an experienced diplomat to lead the State Department, not a rubber stamp for President Trump.
“Additionally, I am appalled by the nomination of Gina Haspel as CIA Director. Her role overseeing the Bush Administration’s illegal torture program should disqualify her from serving in this important position. At a minimum, our CIA Director should respect human rights and international law.”
###