Good morning, Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.
But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)
CIA Nominee Gina Haspel Vows to Not Reinstate Enhanced Interrogation Program
President Donald Trump’s CIA Director nominee, Gina Haspel, did not apologize for her part in enhanced interrogation methods post-9/11, but did vow to a Senate panel on Wednesday that she would not reinstate those techniques at the CIA, NBC News reports.
“I understand that what many people around the country want to know about are my views on CIA’s former detention and interrogation program," Haspel said in her opening remarks at her confirmation hearing with the Senate Intelligence Committee.
During her confirmation hearing, Haspel added, “I have views on this issue, and I want to be clear. Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program.”
In written remarks released on Wednesday, Haspel wrote that she believed the agency had received “valuable intelligence” that helped prevent other potential terrorist attacks from enhanced interrogation methods. During the hearing, however, Haspel said she didn’t “believe that torture works.”
Sen. Susan Collins reminded Haspel that during his campaign, Trump had advocated from waterboarding, a technique that simulates drowning, NBC News reports. Collins then asked what Haspel would do if she were ordered to conduct waterboarding; Haspel only replied that she did not “believe the president would ask [her] to do that.”
At the hearing, Haspel also faced tough questions regarding her involvement in using enhanced interrogation techniques post-9/11 and her destruction of tapes displaying those methods, which has led to criticism and scrutiny on Capitol Hill since her nomination two months ago, NBC News reports.
The committee will likely vote on Haspel’s confirmation next week. If her nomination advances, there would be a full confirmation vote on the Senate floor, most likely before the weeklong Memorial Day recess, NBC News reports.
The Treasury Inspector General is Probing a Possible Leak of Cohen Financial Records
The Treasury Inspector General is investigating a possible leaking to the press of financial records tied to Essential Consulting, LLC, a company founded by Michael Cohen, ABC News reports.
Rich Delmar, a spokesman for the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General, said on Wednesday that investigators are “inquiring into allegations that [Suspicious Activity Report] information has been improperly disseminated.”
Suspicious Activity Reports, or SARs, are a way for individuals or institutions to file accusations of improper financial transactions.
The announcement of this investigation comes less than a day after Stormy Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, posted a memo outlining this financial information, ABC News reports.
Delmar told ABC News that this inquiry stems from a report in The New York Times that included the same information that Avenatti posted on social media.
Both Avenatti and The Times outlined millions of dollars in payments by AT&T, Korean Aerospace Industries, global health care company Novartis AG and investment firm Columbus Nova LLC to Cohen’s company.
All four companies have confirmed payments to Cohen for services that he offered. According to ABC News, Avenatti’s documents show that Cohen used the same firm to pay out Daniels.
Avenatti, however, has declined to state how he obtained this information.
“I’m not going to get into how we got the information,” Avenatti said. “But what I will says is we stand behind it 100 percent.”
Hawaii Could Face Volcanic Smog & Acid Rain
After being affected by hundreds of earthquakes and fiery lava, Hawaii has more threats to face: volcanic smog, acid rain and steam-driven explosions.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory warned residents on Hawaii’s Big Island on Wednesday that there could be potential stream-driven explosions in the coming weeks, CNN reports. As the lava continues to sink into the lake in a Kilauea crater, the groundwater could interact with the lava to create these explosions that would emit “ballistic projectiles” weighing as much as a pebble to several tons.
“At this time, we cannot say with certainty that explosive activity will occur, how large the explosions could be, or how long such explosive activity could continue,” an advisory said.
Officials have also warned of dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. According to CNN, if the winds weaken, it could allow this dangerous gas to settle with moisture and dust to create a volcanic smog, with sulfuric acid droplets that could cause respiratory problems, headaches and irritation to the lungs and eyes.
And with a high chance of rain in the near future, these sulfuric acid droplets could fall, creating acid rain, CNN reports.
“Wherever you have a vog plume, you're going to have acid rain, if it's raining,” University of Hawaii meteorologist Steven Businger told CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now.
The main concern is not necessarily the rain, but rather breathing in the pollutants that caused the rain, CNN reports.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige has asked President Donald Trump to issue a disaster proclamation due to all of the earthquakes and eruptions that Hawaii has endured. This declaration would allow federal funds to flow to state and local efforts, CNN reports. According to the governor’s office, the estimated cost to protect residents over the next 30 days exceeds $2.9 million.
What to look out for...
Since the royal wedding is quickly approaching, check out this super cool royal wedding Lego diorama.
