CIA director and secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo is reportedly preparing for his upcoming confirmation hearing, in part, by reaching out to those who have held the position in the past.
CIA director and secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo is reportedly preparing for his upcoming confirmation hearing, in part, by reaching out to those who have held the position in the past. According to Politico, that includes Hillary Clinton.
Notably, Pompeo was critical of Clinton during the hearing regarding the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya.
Nonetheless, Clinton obliged and reportedly "advised Pompeo to stem the flight of career diplomats who quit under Tillerson," notes Politico. CNN reports that Pompeo's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been scheduled for April 12. While he was confirmed for his CIA post with a vote of 66 to 32, it has been suggested that he may face more opposition this time around.
The New York Times notes that concerns include his 2013 anti-Muslim statements, saying, "American Muslim leaders had not been sufficiently outspoken in denouncing the Boston Marathon bombing, making them 'potentially complicit in these acts.'" In his favor is the leadership he's shown at the CIA. Amy Zegart, an expert on the agency, told the New York Times, "President Trump came into office knowing nothing and trusting nothing about the C.I.A. Pompeo has gained the president's trust and for the most part kept the Trump circus out of Langley. That's a big deal."
