Nearly 100 former nationwide safety officers signed a letter criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to appoint former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of nationwide intelligence and referred to as for closed-door Senate hearings to overview any authorities details about her.
In the letter obtained by NBC News, the officers urged the Senate to “fastidiously consider” whether or not Gabbard is “outfitted” for the place, which requires Senate affirmation.
“Several of Ms. Gabbard’s previous actions name into query her skill to ship unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to your entire nationwide safety equipment,” the letter mentioned. “Following her journey to Syria, for instance, Ms. Gabbard aligned herself with Russian and Syrian officers.”
The former officers additionally proposed closed-door hearings that might enable lawmakers to totally overview any authorities information on Gabbard, a former Democratic House member from Hawaii.
“Senate committees ought to contemplate in closed classes all info obtainable to the U.S. authorities when contemplating Ms. Gabbard’s {qualifications} to handle our nation’s intelligence companies, and extra importantly, the safety of our intelligence sources and strategies,” they wrote.
The letter’s signers embrace Wendy Sherman, former deputy secretary of state within the Biden administration; Ian Kelly, who was ambassador to Georgia throughout the Obama and Trump administrations; and Eric Green, a member of the National Security Council throughout the Biden administration.
Gabbard has previously faced criticism for sympathetic feedback about U.S. adversaries.
Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard called for Ukraine to be a “impartial nation,” urging individuals to “embrace the spirit of aloha.”
In 2017, Gabbard made an unannounced journey to Syria to fulfill President Bashar al-Assad, the nation’s authoritarian chief. The journey sparked bipartisan criticism. The similar yr, she forged doubt on the U.S.’ personal intelligence companies’ conclusion that Assad’s authorities was liable for a chemical weapons assault on Syrians.
The letter additionally argued that Gabbard would “be the least skilled” particular person to carry the director place because it was created in 2004.
“The Senate should fastidiously consider whether or not Ms. Gabbard is provided to successfully oversee an organizational construction as distinctive and enormous because the National Intelligence Program and likewise the impact of her holding this place on the willingness of our closest allies to share intelligence with the U.S.,” the letter mentioned.
The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and incoming Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Thune’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Schumer’s workplace referred to a letter he despatched to Thune this week concerning the affirmation course of, wherein he mentioned Democrats are “prepared and prepared to work with Senate Republicans to supply recommendation and consent” on Trump’s nominations.
Reached for remark, a spokesperson for Gabbard on the Trump transition staff slammed the letter, in addition to the signers’ credentials.
“These unfounded assaults are from the identical geniuses who’ve blood on their arms from a long time of defective ‘intelligence,’ together with the non-existent weapons of mass destruction,” mentioned spokesperson Alexa Henning, referring to a purported justification for the beginning of the Iraq War that turned out to be wrong.
“These intel officers proceed to make use of classification as a partisan weapon to smear and suggest issues about their political enemy with out placing the details out,” Henning continued.
Gabbard is only one of Trump’s anticipated nominees who’s dealing with headwinds.
Trump’s decide to guide the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, faces controversies about allegations of a sexual assault and excessive drinking. Hegseth has mentioned the encounter was consensual, and he was not charged. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump chosen to guide the Department of Health and Human Services, has been criticized for his vaccine skepticism. Those positions additionally require Senate affirmation.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who withdrew his name from consideration to be legal professional normal, confronted allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied.
