The Senate Intelligence Committee moved Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for director of national intelligence forward on Tuesday, clearing a path for a final vote later this month.
Although the committee’s discussions occurred behind closed doors, senators emerging from the session suggested the vote broke along party lines. Nine Republicans reportedly backed Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, while eight Democrats opposed her.
With this split, Gabbard, 43, can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes when the nomination goes to the full Senate. Any more defections would result in her confirmation being blocked.
Her critics, particularly among Republican national security hardliners, have voiced concerns over her history of skepticism regarding U.S. intelligence agencies. This includes doubts she expressed about reports that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad had carried out multiple chemical attacks on his people during Syria’s prolonged civil conflict.
During last week’s public portion of her confirmation hearing, Gabbard faced tough questioning from several Republican senators who expressed serious concerns about her previous positions.
At one point, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) urged Gabbard to clarify her stance on former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. He remarked that “it would befit you and be helpful for the way you’re perceived by members of the Intelligence Committee” to recognize the harm Snowden had caused to national security.
While Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden broke the law by leaking information about the NSA’s surveillance activities, she stopped short of calling him a “traitor.” She also stated that she would not support a pardon for him.
Ultimately, Young announced on Tuesday that he would vote in favor of Gabbard’s nomination. He noted she had assured him “that our intelligence professionals will be supported and policymakers will receive unbiased information under her leadership.”
Another key Republican, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), also declared her support. She complimented Gabbard’s proposal to streamline the operations of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who had previously signaled doubts about Gabbard, also confirmed on Monday that he would back her nomination.
On the Democratic side, most members of the Intelligence Committee expressed reservations, except for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a known advocate for privacy rights.
Throughout her hearing, Gabbard sought to defend her changed views on controversial issues like Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This provision allows U.S. authorities to conduct surveillance on foreign nationals outside of the country.
“The national security capability that is provided by Section 702 that enables this foreign surveillance on non-US persons overseas is critical, period,” Gabbard asserted. This marked a departure from her earlier stance, as she had once sought to repeal the authority while serving in Congress.
Gabbard also addressed her highly criticized 2017 meeting with Assad, explaining that she had confronted him directly. “I pressed him about his own regime’s actions, the use of chemical weapons, and the brutal tactics that were being used against his own people,” she claimed.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), known for his hawkish foreign policy views, affirmed that Gabbard’s background check by the FBI revealed no issues. “Clean as a whistle,” he remarked.
Gabbard, who was a member of the Democratic Party until 2022, switched her political affiliation to Republican last year. She has since thrown her support behind President Trump.
During her testimony, Gabbard reflected on past intelligence failures that had far-reaching consequences. “For too long, faulty, inadequate, or weaponized intelligence has led to costly failures and the undermining of our national security,” she said. “The most obvious example of one of these failures is our invasion of Iraq based upon a total fabrication or complete failure of intelligence.”
She concluded by emphasizing her alignment with the current administration’s goals. “President Trump’s reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure, end the weaponization/politicization of the [intelligence community], and begin to restore trust in those who have been charged with the critical task of securing our nation.”
{Matzav.com}
