Tulsi Gabbard faces growing concern about her nomination after a tough confirmation hearing

Washington – There is a growing concern in political circles that the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for the director of National Intelligence could be in serious problems after a confirmation audience last week that even left the Republican senators questioning openly if it should be put In such a critical role, several people. Familiar with the matter he told NBC News.

Of particular concern is his refusal to respond directly when asked if Edward Snowden, a former government contractor who leaked highly classified documents and then looked for asylum in Russia, was a traitor.

“It’s 50-50 that he arrives,” said a person familiar with Gabbard’s confirmation process.

The Democratic senators are expected to unanimously oppose Gabbard’s confirmation in a full floor vote, which would mean that it can be allowed to lose the support of only three Republican senators to be confirmed.

Many officials inside the White House were “shaken” by Gabbard’s answer to Snowden’s question, a person familiar with the thought of the White House said, he added that he seemed not prepared.

Snowden’s moment caught President Donald Trump’s attention, according to another person familiar with White House thought. While watching a clip from him, Trump wondered aloud how his lack of direct response would develop, said this person.

“He was curious about how he would affect his possibilities of nomination or if he wouldn’t matter at all,” said this person.

Gabbard was interrogated by senators on both sides of the hall during his Senate Intelligence Committee, an audience about his previous comments praising Snowden and suggesting that he should be forgiven.

In an exchange with Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., Gabbard refused to say that Snowden is a traitor.

When asked directly if Snowden is a traitor, Gabbard told Lankford: “My heart is with my commitment to our constitution and the security of our nation.”

“I have demonstrated throughout my almost 22 years of service in the army, as well as in my time in Congress, how seriously I take the privilege of having access to classified information and the secrets of our nation, and that is why I am committed, if confirmed.

When Lankford continued with the same question, Gabbard simply said: “Senator, I am focused on the future and how we can prevent something like this from happening again.”

The new doubts about Gabbard’s ability to be confirmed come after the White House, before his audience, was presented in private that he needed to do the job to earn skeptical senators.

“She is the one who has the most work to do to convince senators to vote for her,” said one of the people familiar with the confirmation process.

Gabbard prepared for his confirmation audience, including the celebration of simulated sessions, according to a person familiar with the process.

White House officials insist that Trump is standing with Gabbard, and published an article about Truth Social on Friday that praised his confirmation audience performance.

“President Trump nominated Tulsi Gabbard because he thinks he will do an excellent job as director of National Intelligence, and we hope the Senate confirms it,” said the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a statement to NBC News When asked about any concern. on the Gabbard nomination.

And when asked if the White House is planning to defend Gabbard with the same aggressive as he did for Pete Hegesh He said: “Yes, absolutely, absolutely.”

This person suggested that the White House wants to press the senators so that Vote on their nomination and that the president and his allies pay close attention to who supports her and who does not.

Snowden was working as a contractor for the National Security Agency in 2013, when he leaked a treasure of highly classified documents that revealed the existence of a global surveillance program. Later that year, he was accused by the Department of Justice under the espionage law and fled to Russia to seek asylum. He became a naturalized citizen there in 2022.

In the past, Gabbard called Snowden “a brave complainant” and even said he would forgive him when he was running in the Democratic presidential primaries in 2019.

“Yes,” Gabbard said at that time in response to the question of Podcast Joe Rogan’s presenter about whether he would forgive Snowden if he were chosen.

At Thursday’s audience, Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked Gabbard if he would advocate clemency or forgiveness by Snowden if confirmed as a DNI.

“My responsibility would be to guarantee the security of the secrets of our nation, and [I] He would not take measures to advocate any action related to Snowden, ”Gabbard told the senator.

In his answer to a question by Senator Mark Warner, D-V., Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden should not have leaked all the documents he did, but that he still seemed to defend his actions.

“What message would you send to the intelligence workforce to have a ID that would celebrate the staff and contractors who decide to filter the most sensitive secrets of our nation as they seem better?” Warner asked.

“The fact is that also, even when he violated the law, he published information that presented atrocious, illegal and unconstitutional programs that are happening within our government that led to serious reforms,” ​​Gabbard told Warner.

With her confirmation audience behind her, the Senate panel that questioned her on Thursday will now decide whether to vote her nomination outside the committee. If a simple majority, which could be composed of Republicans, supports Gabbard, his nomination will go to a complete Senate vote.

But with the Republicans with only a majority of a seat in the committee, that imminent vote is still precarious for Gabbard, and the consequences of their testimony last week were immediate.

Lankford, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had previously said “Meet The Press” of NBC News that was a “yes”. But after Gabbard’s audience, Lankford told reporters: “I think there are many questions later.”

Republican senator Josh Hawley from Missouri said: “I’m worried that his nomination may be in danger.”

The first person familiar with the confirmation process also said that there have been mixed criticisms that came out of their individual meetings with the senators.

But after his audience, Gabbard met with the president of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of R-Ark., To review his strategy, according to a source close to Gabbard. The source added that the White House, Cotton and Gabbard have been closing from the audience.

“We feel really good with the reaction of Senators Collins and Cornyn,” added the person.

The source said, however, that Gabbard’s team was not sure if he has support from Lankford and Senator Todd Young, R-ind.

Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, had pushed Gabbard during his audience about his perspective on arrest orders related to Americans who appear in surveillance data. After the audience ended, Cornyn told reporters: “I thought she did well.”

But on Friday, he announced that he plans to support Gabbard’s confirmation.

Collins, a moderate, has demonstrated the will to vote for Trump’s nominees, after having previously voted against Hegseth. He pressed Gabbard during the audience about whether he would press for clemency for Snowden.

Gabbard said he would not look for a forgiveness for Snowden, which led Collins to tell the journalists that “I was happy with their answers to my questions, including the question of whether I would recommend a forgiveness of Edward Snowden, where he clearly said ‘No.”

A senior assistant to the Republican Senate told NBC News that he or she believes that Gabbard “will be confirmed both in the committee and on the floor.”

“His challenges with members are all repairable,” added the assistant.



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