I can't remember what Rand Paul had against the guy, but I guess it turned out not to be a deal breaker for Rand.
Your question about this got me to thinking and looking up stories from last month, to help me understand what Paul had against Pompeo. He didn't like Pompeo's stance on the war going on in Iraq, and especially Pompeo's view of "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques." Rand Paul called it "torture." His words about Pompeo: "I think the debate over whether or not America is a country in favor of
torture or not is an important one [sic].â€
This is why politicians should not use hyperbole to knock off an opposing view. Rand Paul just said, using his own words, that Rand Paul has decided torture is OK. The use of the word "torture" to frame Pompeo as evil painted Paul into a corner, and walking that back makes him look unprincipled. He made the same claim against Gina Haspel who is in line to be confirmed for Director of CIA. Is he going to walk that one back, too? He called her "gleeful" in her defense of torture.
Source, including the quote:
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/14/rand-paul-opposes-mike-pompeo-state-461749