Tulsi Gabbard, then a Hawaii congresswoman and Democratic hopeful for president, appeared on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast and made an impassioned case for pardoning Edward Snowden. The former U.S. intelligence contractor,
Gabbard's career was once defined by championing progressive causes but has since pivoted to sharp criticism of Democrats.
Tulsi Gabbard, a veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, is set to face a skeptical Senate during her confirmation hearing Thursday for the role of director of national intelligence.
Tulsi Gabbard is expected to face tough questions about her past comments about Russia, Syria and a key government surveillance program as lawmakers vet her to lead the nation’s intelligence service.
Tulsi Gabbard’s past statements on Syria, Russia, Ukraine and warrantless spying have all given Republican senators pause. But for some lawmakers another issue looms just as large: Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who released reams of classified data on American surveillance programs in 2013 and then fled to Russia.
Sign up for Trump’s Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency.
Ms. Gabbard grew up in a secretive offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement and has made a dizzying journey from conservative to liberal darling to Trump ally.
Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence disregarded U.S. assessments of chemical weapons attacks and instead looked to contested academic research.
Among the topics likely to come up at the hearing: her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her friendly positions toward Russia and her push to drop charges against Edward Snowden.
In the first of two days of hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he wasn’t antivaccine as senators pressed on his past remarks. Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel have hearings today, and RFK Jr. faces another panel.
Tulsi Gabbard is expected to face tough questions from lawmakers Thursday over past comments about Russia and a 2017 visit with Syria’s now-deposed leader.