Senate Democrats Force Delay on Tulsi Gabbard Confirmation Hearing, Put United States at Risk
Republicans on Capitol Hill have been sounding the alarm about the necessity of approving President-elect Donald Trump's national security team, and that alarm has only gotten louder since the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans by an ISIS-loving maniac.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is one of those voices calling for the quick approval of Trump's hand-picked team:
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the senseless terror attack in New Orleans. With reports of ISIS inspiration, the American people expect clear answers from the administration. The threat posed by ISIS will outlast this administration, and this is a clear example of why the Senate must get President Trump’s national security team in place as quickly as possible.
Despite the majority leader's desire to move quickly on confirmations, his Democrat colleagues reportedly have a different plan in mind: stall. Their first target? Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is apparently "balking" at the insistence of Republicans that Gabbard's confirmation hearings be held early next week in order to have her approved before Inauguration Day. According to Warner, Gabbard has failed to submit completed vetting materials to the Senate within the seven-day pre-hearing window, something Republicans dispute.
Amongst Trump's nominees, Gabbard has possibly taken the most heat, with some on the left saying she's a "cult member" and others claiming she's "compromised." Here's RedState's Streiff on Gabbard's nomination:
Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing should focus on whether she has the intellect and the character to effectively manage the US Intelligence Community. Slurs about her being compromised or her religion are off-limits. The fact that the Biden-Harris administration put her on a "watch list" is more of an indictment of the process that did that than any reflection on her. Yes, she does need to answer some hard questions about her vocal defense of Iran, meeting with Syria's Assad, and some other statements, but none of that justifies calling her compromised.
The criticism leveled at Gabbard prompted over 250 veterans to release a letter of support for her nomination, with the signers arguing that "Tulsi as a fearless and principled Congresswoman who stood up to entrenched political systems, we know her as a fellow veteran—one whose worldview was forged through the crucible of serving in combat zones and a lifelong devotion to service."
Moving forward with Gabbard's hearings may be difficult with the Democrats dragging their feet, but Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) fully "intends to hold these hearings before Inauguration Day. The Intelligence Committee, the nominees, and the transition are diligently working toward that goal."
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) is the facilitation silo for the U.S government exploits through the Intelligence Community (IC). The newly appointed Chairman of that committee is Republican Tom Cotton (Sea Island attendee ’16).
Within an article noting Vice Chairman Mark Warner meeting with Director of National Intelligence (DNI) nominee Tulsi Gabbard, it is noted, “The pre-hearing questionnaire also has not been sent to Gabbard as of yet,” implying the SSCI is purposefully slow walking the nomination. The SSCI did not have any issues sending their pre-hearing questionnaire to CIA Director nominee, John Ratcliffe.
Following the meeting, Senator Mark Warner said, “I had questions going in. I have questions coming out.” The main issue appears to be Mrs Gabbard standing on support for Ukraine, which the Republicans and Democrats on the SSCI fully support.
After the Assad removal operation was successful, Tulsi Gabbards previous meeting with removed Syrian leader Bashir Assad, takes on a new dimension. The SSCI does not like that Gabbard was seemingly a previous supporter of Assad in Syria and the Intelligence Community doesn’t like having their interests challenged; particularly as it revolves around Ukraine.
Within the IC nominations, it is very important to pay attention to Senator Tom Cotton; this could be a moment when the masks of the collaboration between the SSCI and IC are revealed.
The CIA, NSA, DNI and U.S interventionist policies as carried out by the intel agencies are all maintained in status through the “oversight” of the SSCI. Both Mark Warner and Tom Cotton are part of the ‘Gang of Eight.’
As we have documented and noted for several years, the FBI background checks are part of the control mechanism that keeps the wrong kind of people out of the IC silos in order to maintain their operational intents. The FBI background check on Tulsi Gabbard has not yet been completed and submitted to the Senate Intel Committee.
WASHINGTON DC – […] Warner sat down with Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, on Wednesday, a meeting that had been highly anticipated as part of her push to win Democratic support.
But Warner, who is expected to remain the top Democrat on the Intelligence panel in the new Congress, indicated that he remains concerned about her nomination, putting a dent in those hopes.
“I had questions going in. I have questions coming out,” Warner told reporters at the Capitol.
“This is an extraordinarily important job,” he continued. “A lot of this [is] also about protecting the independence of the intelligence community and making sure we continue to have the ability to share classified information with our allies.”
When asked if she is fit for the job, Warner noted that Monday was his first chance to ask Gabbard questions and that this is still the “beginning of the process.”
“I have a lot of questions,” he added.
It remains unclear when Gabbard’s confirmation hearing will take place. Warner and Democrats have pressed pause on the committee’s push to hold her hearing as early as next week and say they have not received her FBI background check, ethics disclosure or a pre-hearing questionnaire yet. (read more)
The pre-hearing questionnaire is being used as part of the justification to delay Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination. However, the pre-hearing questionnaire has not been sent to Gabbard by the committee. Interesting…
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