Political nominee Tulsi Gabbard advances in Senate despite concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by President Donald Trump to be director of national intelligence, passed a crucial Senate committee vote on Tuesday, even though there were reservations about her previous pro-Russia remarks and meeting with Syria’s former leader.
A former Democratic congresswoman, Gabbard is a contentious nominee, with lawmakers from both parties highlighting her past support for Edward Snowden, the government leaker. The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9-8 in a closed-door session to advance her nomination, with Democrats on the committee voting against.
Gabbard’s nomination now moves to the full Senate for further consideration, although a voting date has not yet been set.
After a heated confirmation hearing last week, where Republican senators questioned Gabbard vigorously, GOP backing for her grew following a weekend pressure campaign by Trump supporters and allies, including Elon Musk.
Initially, it was uncertain whether Gabbard’s nomination would proceed beyond the Intelligence Committee until three key swing-vote GOP members announced their support. Given the substantial Democratic opposition and slim Republican majority, Gabbard will need nearly all GOP senators to vote in favor for confirmation to the top intelligence role.
While some Republicans have raised concerns about Gabbard’s past stances, they back her calls to reform the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees 18 federal agencies engaged in intelligence gathering and analysis. GOP lawmakers have criticized the office as too large and politicized.
Senate Intelligence Chairman Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, expressed optimism about collaborating with Gabbard to implement necessary reforms at ODNI.
Gabbard, a National Guard lieutenant colonel who served in the Middle East and ran for president in 2020, lacks formal intelligence experience and has not managed a government agency before.
During the confirmation hearing, Gabbard faced tough questions about her previous support for Snowden, who disclosed classified information about surveillance programs and sought refuge in Russia. Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden violated rules on protecting classified secrets while praising the revelations he made.
A controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad was another focal point. Assad was recently ousted after a brutal civil war and accused of using chemical weapons. Following her meeting, Gabbard faced backlash for engaging with a dictator and expressing doubts about Assad’s use of chemical weapons.
Defending her conversation with Assad, Gabbard stated that she raised concerns about his human rights record during the encounter.
Gabbard has also echoed Russian propaganda supporting the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine and opposed a key U.S. surveillance program in the past.
Democrats criticized Gabbard’s responses to queries about her past beliefs, with Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona stating that she lacks the judgment required for a role crucial to national security.
“Skepticism is healthy, but consistently embracing sensational yet poorly supported viewpoints raises concerns,” Kelly said.
“Ed claims that while dismissing the thorough assessments of our intelligence community, it becomes dangerous,” Kelly said in a statement explaining his vote. “But rather than ease my concerns, she confirmed them.” In the latest instance of the “Make America Great Again” base pressuring senators to support Trump’s nominees, Musk blasted Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana as a “deep-state puppet” in a now-deleted social media post before the two men spoke and Musk later called him an ally. Young, whose critical questioning of Gabbard had prompted speculation he might oppose her, confirmed Tuesday he would back Gabbard. Young said his tough questions for Gabbard were just part of the process. “I have done what the framers envisioned for senators to do: use the consultative process to seek firm commitments, in this case commitments that will advance our national security,” he wrote in a statement announcing his support for Gabbard.
