Protesters from Code Pink, an international social justice group opposing "militarism" and "foreign intervention," interrupted the Senate confirmation hearing of CIA director nominee Gina Haspel on Wednesday.
Haspel, who President Donald Trump nominated to replace Mike Pompeo at the helm of agency, had only begun to discuss her qualifications when a female protester interrupted with repeated shouts of "Bloody Gina!"
"Bloody Gina! Bloody Gina! Bloody Gina!" the protester screamed. "You are a torturer!"
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R., N.C.) called on Capital Police to remove the demonstrator so the hearing could continue. Burr also threatened to "remove all individuals" from the hearing in the event of "further disruptions."
The protester continued to shout as law enforcement struggled to remove her from the room, according to The Independent.
"The question is, what do you do to human beings in U.S. custody?" the protester, who was surrounded by a number of other individuals wearing pink, also shouted.
Shortly after the incident, Code Pink took to Twitter to claim credit.
"CODEPINK protesters were removed from Gina Haspel's hearing and arrested for calling out her history of torture and demanding she not be confirmed. #BlockGina," the organization tweeted.
CODEPINK protesters were removed from Gina Haspel's hearing and arrested for calling out her history of torture and demanding she not be confirmed. #BlockGina
WATCH here: https://t.co/H67HCmfa8h— CODEPINK (@codepink) May 9, 2018
Haspel, a long-standing employee of the CIA, has come under scrutiny by some critics for her connection to the CIA's post-9/11 enhanced interrogation program. Nevertheless, Haspel has garnered the support of several intelligence officials from the Obama administration who have said she should be confirmed. She joined the agency in 1985 before rising through the ranks to become Pompeo's deputy in 2017.
If Haspel is confirmed, she will be the first female CIA director in history.