Tulsi Gabbard Faces Intense Senate Grilling Over Snowden, Assad, and Putin
Senators harshly questioned Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, during her confirmation hearing. She refused to call Edward Snowden a traitor, attempted to soften her controversial views on foreign leaders, and reversed her previous criticism of U.S. electronic surveillance. Lawmakers challenged her on past remarks about Assad, Putin’s “legitimate security concerns”, and alleged contacts with Hezbollah.
Key Takeaways from the Hearing
- Snowden: Gabbard admitted he broke the law but refused to call him a traitor, despite heated questioning from Senate Democrats.
- Putin & Ukraine: She walked back her previous claim that Russia was “provoked” into invading Ukraine and stated clearly that Putin started the war.
- Assad: Gabbard insisted she had “no love” for the Syrian president but avoided strong condemnation.
- Hezbollah: Responding to reports that she met with representatives in 2017, she called the claims “absurd accusations”.
Political Fallout
- Republicans are divided: Gabbard lacks enough Senate support for confirmation.
- Democrats aggressively attacked her over ties to authoritarian leaders and opposition to FISA 702 surveillance laws.
- Trump remains committed to Gabbard, despite pushback from within his party.
What’s Next?
- The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold a closed session before the final vote.
- Gabbard could become the first Trump nominee rejected by the Senate in 2025.
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