Hayden: Senate report will make CIA officers ‘more timid’

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on “enhanced interrogations” will have a chilling effect on CIA employees, former agency director Michael Hayden warned Thursday.

“Agency offices will be made to feel that no one has their back. This is a big deal for an organization that is often required to do very edgy things,” he told The Hill in an email.

{mosads}”It will also make agency officers more timid in the future. Who in the next generation will raise their hand and say something like I have an idea, it’s a bit edgy, but …” he said.

Hayden, who was director from 2006 through 2009, was accused in the Senate’s 500-plus page report of misleading lawmakers about the interrogation techniques, which Democrats say amounted to torture.

Since the report’s release on Tuesday, Hayden has vigorously rebutted claims he misled Congress and other policymakers, arguing the report is unfair and biased.

CIA DDirector John Brennan said Thursday there was some concern from the CIA workforce about the report’s release, but said intelligence officers would stay focused on their mission.

“There is some concern and disappointment about what has happened. There certainly is concern about the misrepresentations that they think are circulating now out in the public,” Brennan said. “But they are determined to make sure that they’re able to do what they need to do.”