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Article snippet: The Trump administration is forging ahead with its nomination of Gina Haspel for CIA director despite a crescendo of criticism over her role in the agency’s counterterror program and reports that she recently sought to withdraw. Haspel sat down with two of her toughest critics on the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday — Sens. MORE (W.Va.), a red-state Democrat seen as critical to her chances. Haspel, shuttling from meeting to meeting on Monday flanked by cameras, smiled and told reporters that her meetings were going “great.” The CIA, meanwhile, delivered a set of classified documents to the Senate that includes information about Haspel’s work at the agency after the Sept. 11 attacks. The White House kept up the pressure by blasting out another tranche of laudatory news clips and endorsements, many of which come from former intelligence officials who worked with Haspel. MORE also defended her in a tweet, saying that she has come under fire because she was “too tough on terrorists.” “Think of that, in these very dangerous times, we have the most qualified person, a woman, who Democrats want OUT because she is too tough on terror,” he tweeted. But the uproar over what role Haspel played in the agency’s controversial interrogation and detention program underscored what has been widely expected since Trump first tapped the 33-year agency veteran: Her confirmation hearing is likely to be a contentious affair. Feinstein has already blocked Haspel’s promotion onc... Link to the full article to read more