Democrats Postpone Tulsi Gabbard’s Confirmation Hearings Amid GOP Criticism
Senate Democrats have decided to postpone Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation hearing scheduled for next week, citing her alleged failure to submit the required vetting materials, a move that Republicans argue is politically motivated, according to Axios.
Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has resisted Republican requests to proceed with Gabbard’s hearing early next week. Multiple sources familiar with the discussions revealed that Warner is holding back due to the absence of key documentation.
A source close to the matter stated that the committee has yet to receive Gabbard’s FBI background check, ethics disclosure, or pre-hearing questionnaire. Committee regulations require that these documents be submitted at least a week before the scheduled hearing, Axios reported.
However, Republicans contest this claim. A source working with Gabbard indicated that the former Hawaii Democrat-turned-Independent-turned-Republican had already passed the background check process last week. Moreover, they argue that her existing active security clearance should facilitate a quicker vetting process.
“Gabbard submitted an initial pre-hearing questionnaire and intends to submit a second on time and was given a Thursday deadline, the source said,” Axios reported. “Another source familiar said the ethics disclosures have been delayed for multiple nominees due to the snow and other logistics but are expected to come through soon.”
Regardless of these disputes, without the necessary materials or Democratic approval, Gabbard’s confirmation hearing for the nation’s top intelligence role could be pushed back until late next week or beyond, Axios reported.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) remains determined to move forward. “The Intelligence Committee, the nominees, and the transition are diligently working toward that goal,” a spokesperson stated to Axios, adding that Cotton “intends to hold these hearings before Inauguration Day.”
Following recent terrorist incidents on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the Trump transition team is accusing Democrats of prioritizing politics over national security. “After the terrorist attacks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, it’s sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans’ safety and our national security,” Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning told Axios in a statement. Henning also affirmed that Gabbard is ready to meet with all committee members.
According to committee regulations, confirmation hearings cannot take place until seven days after receiving the nominee’s “background questionnaire, financial disclosure statement, and responses to additional pre-hearing questions.” This tight timeline leaves Gabbard and her team only a short window to align with Cotton’s proposed schedule.
“Cotton could bypass that rule with a majority vote of the panel. But it would be a rare step for a committee that has long prided itself on bipartisanship,” Axios noted further.
In late December, William Webster, a Republican and the only individual to have led both the FBI and CIA, penned a letter expressing concerns over confirming Kash Patel as FBI director and Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.
“While Mr. Patel’s intelligence and patriotism are commendable, his close political alignment with President Trump raises serious concerns about impartiality and integrity,” Webster, 100, who served under both Carter and Reagan, wrote in the letter.
He also raised concerns about Gabbard’s experience level. “Effective management of our intelligence community requires unparalleled expertise to navigate the complexities of global threats and to maintain the trust of allied nations,” the centenarian stated. “Without that trust, our ability to safeguard sensitive secrets and collaborate internationally is severely diminished. … This is no time in world history for a novice in the field to learn this role.”
The Trump transition team dismissed these criticisms in a letter of their own.
“Lt. Col. Gabbard is an active member of the Army and has served in the military for over two decades and in Congress, as someone who has consumed intelligence at the highest levels, including during wartime, she recognizes the importance of partnerships with allies to ensure close coordination to keep the American people safe,” Henning responded.