Tulsi Gabbard's DNI Nomination In Jeopardy Due To GOP Uncertainty

Tulsi Gabbard speaks

Recent reports indicate that Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democrat representative nominated by President Donald Trump for the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI), is facing challenges in garnering enough support to advance out of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

The confirmation hearing for Gabbard is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, where her nomination will be voted on at the committee level before potentially moving to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

While no Trump nominees have failed to advance out of their respective committees so far, Gabbard is currently lacking the necessary majority of votes from the committee members, particularly from Republican senators.

Confirmation hearing scheduled for Thursday with uncertain support from Republican senators.

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard nominated for DNI by Trump facing Senate committee hurdles.

Concerns raised over Gabbard's past positions on surveillance, meeting with Assad, and Snowden defense.

Concerns among GOP members on the committee reportedly stem from Gabbard's previous stances on issues such as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, her meeting with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and her defense of Edward Snowden.

It is noted that Gabbard's fate in the committee may hinge on securing support from all Republican members, given the expected opposition from Democrats.

Senator Tom Cotton, along with other Republican members of the committee, will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of Gabbard's nomination.

Despite recent support from Senator James Lankford following Gabbard's reversal on Section 702, uncertainties remain within the GOP ranks regarding her nomination.

Efforts are reportedly underway by some Trump-aligned Republican senators to waive the committee's rules in order to make the vote on Gabbard's nomination public, a move that could potentially impact the final decision.

As the situation unfolds, both the White House and Senator Cotton's office have refrained from providing comments on the matter, while Gabbard's spokesperson has emphasized her qualifications for the role and criticized what they perceive as attempts to undermine her nomination.

While the vote on Gabbard's nomination is expected to proceed in a closed manner as per the committee's rules, the outcome remains uncertain as the committee deliberates on her suitability for the position of DNI.