Senate panel demands withdrawal of CIA nominee

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/13/senate-panel-tells-bush-to-withdraw-cia-nominee/

Senate panel demands withdrawal of CIA nominee.

On Tuesday, Think Progress noted that a coalition of human rights and advocacy groups were urging the Senate Intelligence Committee to reject President Bush’s nominee for General Counsel of the CIA, John Rizzo. The groups said that Rizzo’s refusal at a June confirmation hearing to disavow his approval of a 2002 memo stretching the definition of torture should disqualify him from the position. Today, the Washington Post reports members of the committee requested the withdrawal of Rizzo’s nomination:

Two U.S. officials familiar with the committee’s decision said the request for Rizzo’s withdrawal has been conveyed to Gen. Michael Hayden, the CIA’s director. (…)

CIA officials declined comment on whether a formal request had been received, but a spokesman said Hayden continues to support Rizzo’s nomination.