12 Facts About Mike Pompeo, Trump’s CIA Director

Here’s where the Kansas Republican stands on torture, surveillance, Muslims, and more.

On January 23, 2017, the Senate confirmed Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Republican congressman from Kansas, as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Pompeo, 53, has served in the House of Representatives since 2011. He succeeds a 25-year veteran of the CIA, John Brennan, who’s served as the agency’s chief since 2013.

Here’s what you need to know about Pompeo:

1. He served in the Army.

2. Like Trump, Pompeo spent years as a businessman.

3. He is married to Susan Pompeo and together they have one son, Nick.
4. He was swept into office with the Tea Party movement.

5. As a U.S. representative, Pompeo was an outspoken critic of Hillary Clinton’s handling of Benghazi.

6. Pompeo thinks Edward Snowden should be put to death.

7. He supports government surveillance programs of Americans and foreign leaders.

8. He spoke out in favor of the CIA’s use of torture.

9. He’s no fan of food labeling, particularly when it comes to GMOs.

10. And he’s stridently pro-life.

11. His comments about Muslims have drawn criticism.

12. He supported Marco Rubio.

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