Inside Sen. Tom Cotton's campaign to save Tulsi Gabbard's endangered DNI nomination
2025-02-06
Category: political

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Tom Cotton was instrumental in pushing Tulsi Gabbard's controversial nomination to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI) past its first hurdle in the upper chamber this week, and it took a full court press to do so.&nbsp; Gabbard successfully advanced out of the Intel Committee this week, with all Republican members voting in her favor, despite concerns they would not.&nbsp; Cotton led the effort with a makeshift Gabbard confirmation "war room" and the enlisted assistance of former rebel Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, as well as former Intel Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, according to a GOP Senate source with knowledge of Cotton's efforts. The "cordial and calculated" campaign to confirm President Donald Trump's nominee for DNI saw close work between Gabbard's confirmation sherpa team, the White House's legislative affairs team and Vice President JD Vance, a former senator, the source told Fox News Digital. SENATORS LEAPFROG HOUSE REPUBLICANS ON ANTICIPATED TRUMP BUDGET BILL  The group assisted Gabbard in each step of the process. They helped with questions for the nominee submitted to the committee, queries from lawmakers, hearing preparation and even strategized on a last-minute op-ed to address any lingering concerns, the source said. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, penned an op-ed in Newsweek following her hearing, detailing, "Why I Am the Right Choice to Lead the Office of National Intelligence." The article addressed a significant point of concern for some undecided Republicans: Her refusal to call NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden a traitor.&nbsp; FORMER GOP LEADER MCCONNELL FALLS WHILE EXITING SENATE CHAMBER AFTER TURNER CONFIRMATION VOTE  "Given the interest by committee members about whether Edward Snowden should be called a ‘traitor,’ here's what I shared with the&nbsp;Senate Intelligence Committee in the closed session about why I do not casually throw around that term: Treason is a capital offense, punishable by death, yet politicians like former Secretary of State&nbsp;Hillary Clinton and former US Senator&nbsp;Mitt Romney have slandered me,&nbsp;Donald Trump Jr. and others with baseless accusations of treason," she wrote.&nbsp; SENATE TEES UP TRUMP BUDGET CHIEF PICK RUSSELL VOUGHT FOR FINAL CONFIRMATION VOTE  Cotton also reportedly advised the White House on how to be particularly persuasive when it comes to courting senators for their crucial votes. He remained in close touch with Trump's administration throughout Gabbard's process leading up to the Intel Committee's pivotal vote, according to the GOP Senate source. Sinema, who recently retired from the Senate, spoke to two of her former Senate colleagues, Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who both ultimately voted to advance Gabbard despite concerns they may not, the source said. Also deployed to speak with committee members was former Trump National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien.&nbsp; FORMER NFL PLAYER SCOTT TURNER CONFIRMED TO LEAD HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT  Cotton also kept in contact with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and his office during the process, which appeared precarious for Gabbard at times, as well as held meetings with the intel committee's Republican members, the source told Fox News Digital. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Before Gabbard's committee hearing, Cotton met with the nominee, along with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, committee member Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Burr, during which they prepared her for more than an hour to address specific committee Republicans' concerns, the source said. Now, Trump's DNI pick will need to overcome a procedural vote in the full Senate before moving on to a final confirmation vote. However, Gabbard's success in committee bodes well for her, given she locked down the support of several more hesitant Senate Republicans who are expected to continue supporting her on the chamber floor.&nbsp;