Trump’s controversial cabinet pick was questioned by both sides of the aisle in Thursday’s hearing.
President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, faced a fiery hearing with the Senate Intelligence Committee.
In her opening statement, Gabbard told lawmakers that big changes are needed to address years of failures of America’s intelligence service. She said that too often, intelligence has been false or politicized, causing wars and foreign policy failures. She pointed out that these problems have continued as the United States faces renewed threats from Russia and China.
“The bottom line is this must end. President Trump’s reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure and the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,” Gabbard told senators assembled at the hearing.
Gabbard highlighted her past military service, saying she would bring the same sense of duty to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Democrats and Republicans at the hearing questioned Gabbard on comments she has made that are sympathetic to Russia, her meeting with Syria’s now-deposed leader, and her past support for government leaker Edward Snowden.
Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas asked Gabbard whether Russia would “get a pass from her.” Gabbard responded, “Senator, I’m offended by the question. Because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people.”
In 2017, Gabbard had a visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Assad was recently deposed following a civil war in which he was accused of using chemical weapons. Gabbard faced significant backlash following the visit. “I just do not understand how you can blame NATO for Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, and when Assad used chemical weapons against his own people, you didn’t condemn him,” said Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia.
Gabbard defended the meeting, saying, “I asked him tough questions about his own regime’s actions.”
Lawmakers from both parties questioned Gabbard on her past statements that were supportive of Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Russia after he was charged with revealing classified information about intelligence programs. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado asked Gabbard, “Yes or no, is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?”
Gabbard did not respond directly, answering, “As someone who has served in uniform in combat, I understand how critical our national security is.” Bennet cut her off, saying, “Apparently, you don’t.”
Gabbard is a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii. She is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who deployed twice to the Middle East, and she also ran for president in 2020.
