Duckworth Votes Against Confirming John Ratcliffe as CIA Director

Duckworth Votes Against Confirming John Ratcliffe as CIA Director

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe by a vote of 74-25 to serve as CIA Director under President Trump:

"When questioned during his last confirmation hearing about his views on torture during the first Trump Administration, John Ratcliffe had weak responses even compared to his fellow nominees-refusing to openly condemn torture as a tactic against captured adversaries. He has failed to prove he's changed his stance-and for that reason and more, I voted against his nomination today. When you're stuck bleeding in a helicopter behind enemy lines like I was, you hope and pray that if the enemy finds you first, they treat you humanely. Anyone who can't categorically condemn torture-which is illegal, immoral and has been proven time and again to be ineffective in extracting accurate intelligence-cannot be trusted to lead the CIA."

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