As the U.S. awaits a damning report on the CIA's use of torture techniques, ex-CIA Director Michael Hayden criticized Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein on Sunday for being too "emotional," FoxNews.com reported.

Feinstein, a Democratic senator from California, recently said the report would "ensure that an un-American, brutal program of detention and interrogation will never again be considered or permitted."

Hayden told "Fox News Sunday" that the statement demonstrated Feinstein's "deep, emotional feeling" about torture and doesn't "lead you to an objective report."

Feinstein quickly responded to Hayden's remarks, telling the Washington Post that the report is "objective, based on fact, thoroughly footnoted."

"I am certain it will stand on its own merits," she said.

On Thursday, the Senate committe voted 11-3 to declassify the report -- featuring a 480-page summary of the Senate Democrats' five-year probe into the Bush-era CIA programs.

Hayden's comments were immediately criticized as sexist and offensive, prompting many people to respond on social media sites.

"Oh, Senator Dianne Feinstein & all her "silly girlish feelings" on torture..." Toronto Star national security reporter Michelle Shepherd tweeted.

Valerie Plame, a former CIA agent, also responded to Hayden.

"Yeah, I guess because she's a girl..." Plame's tweet read, accompanied by a link to an article on Hayden's suggestive remarks.