Senate confirms Caroline Krass as CIA general counsel

By Greg Miller

The Senate on Thursday voted to confirm Caroline Krass as CIA general counsel...Her confirmation had been held up in part by lawmakers angered by the ongoing dispute between the CIA and the Senate Intelligence Committee over committee’s investigation of the agency’s use of harsh interrogation techniques after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

During her confirmation hearing in December, Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) voted against Krass’s nomination and accused the CIA of refusing to turn over an internal review of the interrogation program ordered by former agency Director Leon E. Panetta. He also pushed for a statement from President Obama indicating support for declassifying the committee’s 6,200-page interrogation report. Obama did so Wednesday, apparently clearing the way for Thursday’s vote to confirm Krass.

Udall let Krass's confirmation move forward Thursday, but he called for new leadership in the CIA's general counsel's office.

"We need to correct the record on the CIA's coercive detention and interrogation program and declassify the Senate Intelligence Committee's exhaustive study of it, Udall said in a statement. "I released my hold on Caroline Krass's nomination today and voted for her to help change the direction of the agency....The president has stated an unequivocal commitment to supporting the declassification of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report. Coloradans expect me to hold him to his word."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/13/senate-confirms-caroline-krass-as-cia-general-counsel/