Politics

Pompeo Fact Checks Dem Senator On His CIA Record

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Amber Athey Podcast Columnist
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CIA director Mike Pompeo did a live fact checkon Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen during his secretary of state confirmation hearing on Thursday.

WATCH:

Shaheen focused in on Pompeo’s opposition to gay marriage and suggested that he was discriminating against his employees at the CIA.

“You were criticized at the CIA for undermining policies of the previous administration to improve diversity at the CIA,” Shaheen claimed.

“Ma’am, I don’t know the criticism you’re referring to,” Pompeo replied. “I have to tell you I didn’t undermine any policies.”

Shaheen retorted by citing the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who claimed he has seen “increasing complaints from those inside the intelligence community.”

Pompeo left Shaheen stuttering when he informed her that official complaints in the CIA decreased by 40 percent under his leadership.

“The number of — we call them ‘no fear complaints’ — the statutory requirement decreased from 2016 to 2017 by 40 percent,” Pompeo explained. “I’m proud of the record…the work that my team has done on this.”

“Good,” Shaheen conceded.

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