January 11, 2017, New York – In advance of the Senate confirmation hearing scheduled tomorrow for Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) to head the CIA, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) issued the following statement:

We oppose Rep. Mike Pompeo’s confirmation to lead the CIA because he lacks the depth of experience and cautious temperament necessary to lead an agency with responsibility for clandestine operations and a history of violating the law.  His public statements suggest that he is a loose cannon who acts before he thinks.  Worse, he has defended and endorsed torture, and characterized those complicit in the CIA torture program as “patriots.” He has also made comments personally attacking his colleagues in Congress who demanded greater transparency from our government, suggesting his contempt for legislative oversight of the CIA at a time when it could scarcely be more necessary. Mike Pompeo is unfit to be the director of the CIA.