Tulsi Gabbard boldly confronted the alleged abuse and politicization of the intelligence community during a tense Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. The hearing, held on Thursday, saw Gabbard responding to questions about Edward Snowden and Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The nominee did not shy away from targeting the supposed weaponization of intelligence by the government. Some committee members aimed to challenge her previous statements regarding foreign policy and surveillance.
In an open statement that set the tone for the hearing, Gabbard dismissed accusations of being a puppet for various political figures and foreign leaders. “Those who oppose my nomination imply that I am loyal to something or someone other than God, my own conscience, and the Constitution of the United States,” Gabbard stated firmly. She underscored her refusal to be anyone’s puppet, suggesting that this independence is what truly unsettles her political adversaries.
She criticized the FBI and the intelligence community for what she described as their misuse of power, highlighting the case of FISA being used to illegally spy on Carter Page, a former advisor to the Trump campaign. Gabbard underscored her concern by referencing the 51 former intelligence officials who suggested the emails on Hunter Biden’s laptop were Russian disinformation, and condemned the FBI for a memo targeting “radical traditionalist Catholics.”
Former North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr introduced Gabbard, praising her military service. “I refuse to question the qualifications of a woman who has worn the uniform of her nation for 22 years and never taken it off,” Burr stated. His endorsement is particularly noteworthy because of his previous role as committee chair, and his support could sway undecided Republican senators. Burr’s alignment with Gabbard is significant following his decision to vote to convict Trump.
Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst also offered support, commending Gabbard for her military background and her willingness to serve in a Republican administration. Ernst, aligned with establishment Republicans, previously faced backlash for opposing some of Trump’s nominees, lending weight to her endorsement of Gabbard.
WATCH: Tulsi Gabbard just exposed Barack Obama & the CIA for conducting regime change operations in Syria and training & funding terrorists.
No wonder they can't stand her.
"Today we have an Islamist extremist who is now in charge of Syria, who danced on the streets to… pic.twitter.com/irIvYN4pj3
— George (@BehizyTweets) January 30, 2025
Throughout the hearing, Gabbard faced questions about her foreign policy stances, especially regarding Russia, China, and Syria. When Republican Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran questioned her stance on Russia, Gabbard confidently rebutted, “I’m offended by the question,” and emphasized that no entity would receive undue leniency from her.
Collins seems like a Yes on Tulsi, though we'll see.
Also: Wyden said he also favors reforms to Section 702, specifically warrant requirements to spy on Americans.
Asks Tulsi if she agrees with him on the need for that reform. She says: I do agree with you on that.👍
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 30, 2025
Gabbard was scrutinized for her opinions on Edward Snowden, known for exposing mass surveillance by the NSA. Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner criticized Gabbard’s previous characterization of Snowden as a “brave whistleblower.” While Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden broke the law, she resisted labeling him a traitor, highlighting the need for protections for whistleblowers.
The division in the committee was evident, with the nine Republicans and eight Democrats showing varied reactions. Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the committee chairman, expressed unwavering support for Gabbard, describing her FBI background checks as “clean as a whistle.”
h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
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