Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Hill reports:
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) signaled Thursday that former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for director of national intelligence could be in jeopardy after her past defense of alleged traitors, adding to the list of skeptics.
“I’m worried by what I hear from some of my Republican colleagues. I’m worried that her nomination may be in jeopardy,” Hawley said during a Thursday Fox News appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime. “And I’m just worried about what that will mean,” he added.
Gabbard, who was tapped by President Trump to helm the intelligence community, was widely criticized for meeting with former Syria leader Bashar Assad before his regime collapsed and previous statements claiming Edward Snowden should be pardoned for revealing classified information relating to global government surveillance programs.
Politico reports:
A number of Republicans seemed skeptical about Gabbard’s answers to questions about NSA contractor Edward Snowden and a controversial surveillance program. They also prodded her about her previous statements on Russia, Syria and Ukraine. It was a marked difference from the hearing of now-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth two weeks ago, in which Republicans heaped praise on the nominee and defended him from Democrats’ attacks.
While no Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee said outright they were wavering on the former Democratic lawmaker, it was far from a bear hug. Among those testing Gabbard’s views Thursday were James Lankford (R-Okla.), Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
The lack of enthusiasm was not a promising sign for the former Democratic lawmaker. For weeks, Senate Republicans have said Gabbard needed a strong performance Thursday to clinch her nomination. The Senate Intelligence Committee is split 9-8 between the two parties, and Gabbard is not expected to pick up any votes from Democrats.
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