Tulsi Gabbard confirmation fate to be tested with key committee vote
2025-02-04
Category: political

Tulsi Gabbard is set to test her odds of Senate confirmation on Tuesday as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence considers her nomination by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; Gabbard, a former Democrat congresswoman who has been tapped as the nominee for director of national intelligence (DNI), went before the committee last week. During her confirmation hearing, she was pressed about her past meeting with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her previous FISA Section 702 stance and her past support for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.&nbsp; She notably refused to agree that Snowden was a traitor during the hearing.&nbsp; RFK JR SPENT WEEKEND TALKING TO KEY SENATOR WHO COULD MAKE OR BREAK HIS CONFIRMATION  The committee will vote on Gabbard's nomination on Tuesday, two sources familiar confirmed to Fox News Digital.&nbsp; While Intel Committee Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has continued to promote Gabbard for the role, at least one key Republican senator on the top committee is considered a potential defector on the nomination vote.&nbsp; Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., hasn't said how he plans to vote in committee.&nbsp; SEN TILLIS OPENS UP ABOUT ROLE IN PETE HEGSETH'S CONFIRMATION AFTER HEGSETH'S EX-SISTER-IN-LAW'S ALLEGATIONS  In a since-deleted post on X, Trump-aligned billionaire Elon Musk said Young was a "deep state puppet" in regard to his uncertainty about Gabbard.&nbsp; A spokesperson for Young told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Senator Young and Mr. Musk had a great conversation on a number of subjects and policy areas where they have a shared interest, like DOGE." Musk also shared on X over the weekend, "Just had an excellent conversation with [Young]. I stand corrected. Senator Young will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy."&nbsp; DEMS DISMISS CALLS FOR APOLOGY AFTER JEFFRIES VOWS 'FIGHT' AGAINST TRUMP AGENDA 'IN THE STREETS'  At the same time, Gabbard has earned a number of key endorsements from Republicans on the committee.&nbsp; Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., endorsed the nominee last month after she announced a reversal of her position against FISA Section 702. ELIZABETH WARREN GRILLED RFK JR ON DRUG COMPANY MONEY, BUT RECEIVED OVER $5M FROM HEALTH INDUSTRY She also received the backing of Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, after her hearing. "Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 provides that the President shall appoint officers with the advice and consent of the Senate. Having won the election decisively, I believe President Trump has earned the right to appoint his own cabinet, absent extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, it is my intention to consent to the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence," Cornyn said in a statement. Moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced her support for Gabbard on Monday evening, saying in a statement, "After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence." "As one of the principal authors of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that established this coordinating position, I understand the critical role the DNI plays in the Intelligence Community.&nbsp;The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, however, has become far larger than it was designed to be, and Ms. Gabbard shares my vision of returning the agency to its intended size.&nbsp;In response to my questions during our discussion in my office and at the open hearing, as well as through her explanation at the closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden.&nbsp;I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to strengthen our national security."  Collins' crucial committee vote was not a certainty, especially given her habit of bucking her party. She most recently did this on the confirmation vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, joining Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in voting against him.&nbsp; CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gabbard will likely need the support of every single Republican on the committee, assuming no Democrats vote in her favor. None of the Democrat senators have said they will vote to advance her nomination.