Scandalous Gabbard confirmed as US Director of National Intelligence

Before the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, asked his Republican colleagues to reconsider the decision to confirm Gabbard for the position.

I ask my colleagues — I know this is the last minute — to think twice, to vote "no", as we all will, because this is a terrible nomination that will jeopardize our national security and our intelligence operations across the country and around the world.

Chuck Schumer

US Senator

Earlier in the hearing, Gabbard was forced to answer questions from senators regarding her previous controversial statements.

She had to explain her position most of all regarding Edward Snowden, the whistleblower of the US National Security Agency, who published data on the PRISM spy program. Previously, Hubbard advocated for Snowden's pardon, but changed her mind during the hearings.

Some Republicans who had expressed concerns about Gabbard's candidacy later supported her candidacy.

Gabbard is also infamous for meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, criticizing the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and calling US policy towards Ukraine "a second Afghanistan."

At the hearing, she said that she is not a "puppet of Putin" or Assad and remains loyal to the United States.

Tulsi Gabbard has been a pro-Russian since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As early as February 2022, she stated that “this war and suffering could have been easily avoided if the Biden/NATO administration had simply recognized Russia’s legitimate concerns about Ukraine joining NATO.” Gabbard has opposed U.S. funding for Ukraine.

In July 2022, Tulsi Gabbard was included by Ukraine on a list of American politicians, academics, and activists who "promote Russian propaganda."