Washington, DC – Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of nationwide intelligence, has confronted robust questions from United States lawmakers over her previous positions, together with her help for whistleblower Edward Snowden.
At a affirmation listening to on Thursday, senators additionally grilled Gabbard over a 2017 go to to Syria, the place she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad.
A former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard has been outspoken towards interventionist overseas coverage.
She unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, and two years later, she give up the Democratic Occasion, decrying it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers”.
She subsequently began campaigning for Republican candidates, together with Trump.
If confirmed, Gabbard would turn into the chief of the US intelligence neighborhood, which consists of 18 businesses, together with the FBI and CIA. She would additionally transient and advise the president on safety issues.
Gabbard is one in all many controversial nominees Trump has appointed to key positions.However with a 53-seat majority within the 100-member Senate, Republicans are anticipated to substantiate all of Trump’s picks.
Gabbard confronted her first check as a nominee in entrance of sceptical lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. Beneath are some key takeaways from the listening to:
Snowden, Snowden, Snowden
A number of Democrats and even some Republicans on the panel invoked Gabbard’s previous statements backing Snowden, a former Nationwide Safety Company contractor who leaked paperwork about mass surveillance programmes within the US authorities.
In 2020, a US courtroom discovered that the surveillance uncovered by Snowden, together with amassing telephone information, was unlawful.
Snowden, who initially fled to Hong Kong, was granted asylum in Russia after the US authorities revoked his passport.
Gabbard beforehand referred to as Snowden a “courageous” whistleblower, and in 2020, she co-sponsored a Home decision urging the US authorities to drop all costs towards Snowden.
On Thursday, Gabbard was questioned aggressively about that place. Democratic Senator Michael Bennet requested her a number of occasions whether or not she considers Snowden a traitor.
The previous congresswoman refused to say so. She walked a nice line by stressing that Snowden broke the legislation and he or she doesn’t agree along with his actions whereas not totally condemning him.
“The very fact is, he additionally – at the same time as he broke the legislation – launched info that uncovered egregious, unlawful and unconstitutional programmes,” she stated.
Gabbard, who served within the US army and stays a military reservist, additionally pressured that she herself has by no means leaked secret info.
Earlier on Thursday, Snowden recommended that Gabbard ought to disavow him to safe her affirmation.
“Inform them I harmed nationwide safety and the candy, comfortable emotions of employees,” he wrote in a social media publish. “In DC, that’s what passes for the pledge of allegiance.”
Tulsi Gabbard might be required to disown all prior help for whistleblowers as a situation of affirmation right now. I encourage her to take action. Inform them I harmed nationwide safety and the candy, comfortable emotions of employees. In D.C., that is what passes for the pledge of allegiance. pic.twitter.com/Z1OmOHgvdU
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 30, 2025
Al-Assad assembly
One other difficulty that stored resurfacing throughout the listening to was Gabbard’s 2017 journey to Syria and Lebanon.
Gabbard met with al-Assad at a time when the US was calling on him to step down over atrocities dedicated by his authorities.
“I requested him robust questions on his personal regime’s actions, using chemical weapons and the brutal techniques that have been getting used towards his personal individuals,” she stated.
Gabbard additionally denied assembly with any Hezbollah officers whereas in Lebanon.
When requested whether or not assembly with al-Assad was good judgement, Gabbard stated sure.
“I imagine that leaders – whether or not you be in Congress or the president of the US – can profit drastically by going and interesting boots on the bottom, studying and listening and assembly straight with individuals, whether or not they be adversaries or mates,” she stated.
Gabbard stated her most important concern has been “extremist” Syrian rebels.
The previous congresswoman additionally slammed Syria’s new management, composed of former rebels who toppled al-Assad’s authorities in December.
She described the autumn of al-Assad as “the sudden takeover of Syria by Islamist extremists”.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the primary insurgent group that captured Damascus final 12 months, had previous ties to al-Qaeda. HTS chief Ahmed al-Sharaa is now the transitional president of Syria.
The US beforehand provided a reward for capturing al-Sharaa, however it was revoked after US officers visited him in Damascus in December.
Professional-Trump message
In her opening remarks, Gabbard gave a nod to the president who nominated her, amplifying Trump’s claims that he was focused by intelligence officers for political causes.
She invoked the overseas surveillance warrant that authorities used to surveil a Trump aide earlier than the 2016 elections as they investigated potential ties between the Trump marketing campaign and Russia.
“The American individuals elected Donald Trump as their president, not as soon as, however twice,” she stated.
“But the FBI and intelligence businesses have been politicised by his opponents to undermine his presidency and falsely painting him as a puppet of Putin.”
She pledged to ship “unbiased” findings to Trump, saying “weaponised” intelligence can result in horrible penalties. Gabbard cited the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which was primarily based on false studies that the nation had weapons of mass destruction.
“This disastrous determination led to the deaths of tens of hundreds of American troopers, thousands and thousands of individuals within the Center East, mass migration, destabilisation and undermining of the safety and stability of our European allies, the rise of ISIS, strengthening of al-Qaeda and different Islamist jihadist teams and strengthening Iran,” she stated.
