Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's nominee for DNI, addresses concerns raised by senators regarding her views on Edward Snowden. She defends her refusal to call Snowden a 'traitor' while emphasizing the importance of authorized whistleblowing channels.
Tulsi Gabbard is attempting to alleviate concerns among senators regarding her nomination as director of national intelligence ( DNI ) through a recent opinion piece. In the piece, she clarifies her stance on Edward Snowden , a former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who leaked classified information revealing mass surveillance programs.
While Gabbard did not support Snowden's actions during her confirmation hearing, her refusal to label him a traitor raised concerns among some Republicans. Gabbard acknowledges that Snowden's release of classified information harmed national security but also exposed illegal and unconstitutional government programs that collected data on millions of Americans. She argues against using the term 'traitor' lightly, pointing out that it is a capital offense and has been misused against her and others. Gabbard maintains that Snowden should have raised his concerns through authorized channels instead of leaking information to the media. However, she recognizes the importance of whistleblowing and pledges to establish a direct hotline for whistleblowers if confirmed as DNI. Gabbard's confirmation process has been met with scrutiny over her past meetings with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, her previous stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and her views on Russia. While some Republican senators have voiced their support for her nomination, she has yet to secure the backing of any Democrats. Gabbard's confirmation hinges on gaining the support of every Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, as she faces opposition from several Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, and John Curtis.
TULSI GABBARD DNI EDWARD SNOWDEN WHISTLEBLOWING CONFIRMATION HEARING SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
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