GOP Senator Makes Waterboarding Joke At Brennan Confirmation Hearing

Less than ninety minutes after CIA Director nominee John Brennan made an impassioned case against waterboarding during his Senate confirmation hearing, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) brought him back down to earth with a crude joke about the “enhanced interrogation technique.”

While Brennan didn’t go so far as to say he personally believes waterboarding constitutes torture, he did assert that “waterboarding is reprehensible and it’s something that should not be done.” That’s what made Burr’s joke all the more jarring.

At the beginning of his time, Burr said, “I’m gonna try to be brief because I’ve noticed you’reon your fourth glass of water. And I don’t want to be accused of waterboarding you.” After some nervous laughter from Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) and others, Burr moved onto a more serious line of questioning.

The joke was reminiscent of comment Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had made to reporters before now Secretary of State John Kerry‘s confirmation hearing.

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