Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the previous Senate Republican Leader, reportedly sent a strong message to fellow Republican senators, some of whom allegedly privately questioned former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii)’s suitability for the position, on Wednesday by voting against her confirmation as the nation’s top intelligence official.
The only Republican senator to vote against Gabbard was McConnell.
Gabbard was under fire for her refusal to label former government contractor Edward Snowden a traitor for stealing 1.5 million classified documents and for her previous opposition to increased surveillance powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Her nomination faced particular opposition from pro-war neoconservative Senators in both parties.
The lawmaker from Kentucky expressed grave concern about Gabbard’s reluctance to call Snowden a “traitor.”
Gabbard’s changing opinions on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits broader surveillance and makes up 60% of the intelligence in the president’s daily briefing, were questioned by McConnell.
During her time in the House, Gabbard filed legislation to remove FISA’s Section 702, but she claimed it had been repaired before her Senate confirmation hearing and referred to it as a “vital” national security instrument.
A procedural motion to move Gabbard’s candidacy to a final up-or-down vote was approved by McConnell on Monday.
By a vote of 52–48, the Senate approved her. She will oversee President Trump’s daily intelligence briefing and serve as the head of the country’s 18 intelligence organizations in her new position.
Vice President Vance had to break a tie to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after McConnell unexpectedly voted “no” on him last month. He had supported Hegseth’s advancement to the last vote.
Democrats pleaded for Gabbard to be rejected by the rest of the Senate GOP party, arguing that she lacked the qualifications and judgment to command tens of thousands of intelligence workers worldwide.
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