Question for the Record submitted to
Ellen McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Nominee by
Senator Tom Cotton (#1)
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
July 25, 2018
Question:
What does this report tell you about the brazenness of Iranian intelligence services to commit
attacks in Europe that would kill hundreds if not thousands of peaceful European citizens?
Answer:
Based on this and other reporting, Iranian intelligence and security services very likely
were involved in planning attacks in Europe. It appears Iranian dissidents were the intended
target of this most recent incident, rather than mass casualties, but it nevertheless indicates
heightened risk tolerance by the regime. Intelligence reporting could corroborate the open
source reporting on this case and possibly inform us on broader regime intentions.

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Question for the Record submitted to
Ellen McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Nominee by
Senator Tom Cotton (#2)
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
July 25, 2018
Question:
Is there any doubt in your mind that Iran is still the number one state sponsor of terrorism in the
world today?
Answer:
The Department of State has listed Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism
since 1984. This is an annual determination made by the Department’s Counterterrorism
Bureau. Iran’s ongoing support to Lebanese Hizballah, Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, Shia
militias in Iraq, and Bahraini militants is confirmation of its status. Iran’s continuing refusal to
bring to justice Al Qaeda leaders purportedly in its custody further underlines its support for
terrorism. Classified information could provide additional detail on Iran’s activities relative to
other state sponsors of terrorism.

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Question for the Record submitted to
Ellen McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Nominee by
Senator Tom Cotton (#3)
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
July 25, 2018
Question:
On Sunday evening, at the Reagan Library, Secretary Pompeo described how the Iranian security
services are getting rich at the expense of the general population and that sanctions targeting the
Iranian economy will not go-away while attacks like these continue. Do you agree with
Secretary Pompeo?
Answer:
I agree with Secretary Pompeo’s statements on the misappropriation of Iran’s financial
resources by corrupt Iranian elites, including the security services. One only needs to look at the
vast inequality in Iran to observe how well-connected regime insiders profit at the expense of the
Iranian people. Whether sanctions on Iran will continue is a question that is more appropriate for
Administration policymakers to answer.

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Question for the Record submitted to
Ellen McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Nominee by
Senator Tom Cotton (#4)
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
July 25, 2018

Question:
What kind of response is required by the Germans, Austrians, French, Belgians, and others so
that Iranian realizes that this kind of state sanctioned terrorist behavior will not be tolerated?
Answer:
If confirmed as INR Assistant Secretary, I would fully support any efforts by State
Department policymakers to engage these countries in common responses, including by
facilitating the sharing of intelligence while protecting sources and methods. I cannot prescribe
specific policy actions that should to be taken by these countries against Iran, but I hope that they
will join our efforts to convince the Iranian regime that the world will not tolerate its continued
support of terrorism.

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Question for the Record submitted to
Ellen McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Nominee by
Senator Susan Collins,
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
July 25, 2018
Question:
INR is much smaller than counterparts like CIA that conduct all source analysis. CIA, for
example, used to have an entire office devoted to analysis on Iraq, while INR would have a team
of analysts—at most—covering the same issue. How do you plan to staff INR and balance
competing demands from senior State Department staff and the Intelligence Community?
Answer:
I understand that INR compensates for its relatively small size by leveraging its deep
expertise (time on account is 17 years on average) and by creating virtual teams that bring
together all of the analysts with expertise on a given priority subject. On Iraq, for instance, the
bureau formed an “INR Team Iraq” with experts drawn from all of INR’s 13 analytic offices,
allowing INR to provide coverage on all key issues, including leadership, internal stability,
foreign policy, economic and security issues, as well as WMD, proliferation issues and
terrorism. If confirmed, I would build on INR’s team approach to ensure INR has the agility to
participate fully in all IC joint production and to provide the Secretary and the Department
exceptional coverage on policy priorities.

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