Human Rights Watch boss confuses BBC's Emily Maitlis for deputy director of CIA

Human Rights Watch boss mistakes BBC journalist Emily Maitlis for deputy director of CIA
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Saphora Smith3 February 2017

The director of Human Rights Watch apparently confused BBC News presenter Emily Maitlis for the newly-appointed deputy director of the CIA.

Kenneth Roth took to social media on Friday to criticise Donald Trump’s appointment of Gina Haspel to the top-ranking job, amid reports that she ran a secret CIA prison where inmates were tortured.

Posting on Twitter Mr Roth wrote: “Of all the people Trump could have picked as deputy CIA director, he chose a woman who ran CIA black site for torture.”

But on posting his rebuke he attached a picture of BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis rather than Ms Haspel.

Ms Maitlis replied to Mr Roth’s post on Twitter writing: “Erm. This is me. And I’m pretty sure I never ran a CIA black site for torture…#Newsnight.”

Mr Roth, who is based in the US, eventually removed the post from Twitter, posting an apology.

He wrote: "Sorry, wrong photo for new CIA deputy director Gina Haspel."

His European media director Andrew Storehlein had already replied to Ms Maitlis on Twitter, writing: “No idea what happened. BBC interviews can be tough but not that level. Seriously: Very sorry. Ken will pick this up in US time.”

Ms Haspel appointment as the deputy director of the CIA on Thursday has sparked controversy among human rights activists, after US media reported she had a leading role in torturing detainees in Thailand.

The New York Times reported Ms Haspel oversaw the torture of two terrorism suspects and later tried to destroy videotapes documenting their interrogations in Thailand.

The claim prompted a lengthy Justice Department investigation that ended without charges.

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