US Senate Intelligence Committee Supports Tulsi Gabbard
Former Democratic congresswoman has obtained crucial approval from a Senate committee.
TroibNews 
Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has received a significant endorsement from the Senate Intelligence Committee for her nomination as the next US director of national intelligence. The committee voted 9-8 along party lines on Tuesday to send her nomination to the full Senate, paving the way for a final confirmation vote.
Gabbard, a military veteran and former presidential candidate in 2020, has endured considerable scrutiny regarding her past viewpoints, including her support for whistleblower Edward Snowden and her meeting with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2017. During her confirmation hearing last week, she chose not to label Snowden a traitor but acknowledged that he “broke the law.”
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a crucial swing vote, announced her support for Gabbard on Monday, highlighting their mutual goal of reducing the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and restoring its original coordinating function. Collins’ endorsement, along with support from Senators James Lankford and Todd Young, was vital in achieving the committee’s approval.
US President Donald Trump expressed his desire for Gabbard to take on the top intelligence role in mid-November, which sparked backlash from establishment figures who considered her selection a significant security risk.
In 2022, Gabbard argued that the Ukraine conflict might have been averted had the US “simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns” related to Kiev’s aspirations to join NATO.
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard held an independent status for two years. She announced her decision to join the Republican Party during a rally supporting Trump’s presidential campaign in October.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
Gabbard, a military veteran and former presidential candidate in 2020, has endured considerable scrutiny regarding her past viewpoints, including her support for whistleblower Edward Snowden and her meeting with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2017. During her confirmation hearing last week, she chose not to label Snowden a traitor but acknowledged that he “broke the law.”
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a crucial swing vote, announced her support for Gabbard on Monday, highlighting their mutual goal of reducing the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and restoring its original coordinating function. Collins’ endorsement, along with support from Senators James Lankford and Todd Young, was vital in achieving the committee’s approval.
US President Donald Trump expressed his desire for Gabbard to take on the top intelligence role in mid-November, which sparked backlash from establishment figures who considered her selection a significant security risk.
In 2022, Gabbard argued that the Ukraine conflict might have been averted had the US “simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns” related to Kiev’s aspirations to join NATO.
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard held an independent status for two years. She announced her decision to join the Republican Party during a rally supporting Trump’s presidential campaign in October.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
