Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said late Thursday he would not support Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence after she refused to condemn NSA leaker Edward Snowden.
During the confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard in the Senate this week, Senator Mark Warner lost it on Gabbard over her past comments on Edward Snowden.
Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, clashed with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) over Edward Snowden at her confirmation hearing. SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): And, Ms.
Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) acknowledged Gabbard’s “unconventional views,” but characterized her as free thinker who can push back on the type of mainstream foreign policy thinking that has dragged the country into disastrous wars abroad.
Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, has faced tough questions from lawmakers during a fiery confirmation hearing Thursday.
Warner added, “I continue to have significant concerns about your judgment and your qualifications to meet the standard set by the law.”
Gabbard was questioned by Republicans and Democrats alike on her views of Snowden and whether she believes he was a traitor. She declined to say she believed he was a traitor, repeating that she felt he had broken the law and reiterating a point that she has made in the past, that he exposed practices that have resulted in the reform of 702.
Three of President Trump’s controversial Cabinet nominees faced confirmation hearings Thursday. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. look most at risk.
Tulsi Gabbard fought back against what she called “smears,” declaring she is nobody’s “puppet” before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, grilled Tulsi Gabbard on her previous remarks praising Edward Snowden.
Sen. Mark Warner noted that the law creating the DNI position requires the nominee to have “extensive national security expertise.”