White House lawyer to become first female CIA deputy director after Morell steps down

WASHINGTON – CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell is stepping down and being replaced by White House lawyer Avril Haines, the first woman to hold the post.

When President Barack Obama named a successor to former CIA Director David Petraeus in January, Morell was passed over in favour of the White House counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan. Morell had been acting director since Petraeus’ resignation.

Morell said Wednesday he would leave on Aug. 9.

Haines has been a White House deputy assistant and deputy counsel for national security affairs since 2010. Before that, she was assistant legal adviser for treaty affairs at the State Department.

Haines had been nominated to serve as the State Department’s legal adviser, but Brennan chose her for the deputy post when Morell made clear that he was retiring.

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Kimberly Dozier

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