Rep. Michael McCaul expresses concern over Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to head the nation's Intelligence Community, citing her history of pro-Russia and pro-Assad comments.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, predicted some of President-elect Donald Trump 's Cabinet picks would face challenges with the U.S. Senate during an interview with The Texas Tribune. The House Foreign Affairs chair called Tulsi Gabbard a “baffling” pick to lead the nation’s Intelligence Community, offering one of the sternest rebukes from a Republican yet.
Trump selected the former Democratic congresswoman to be the next director of national intelligence, a cabinet-level position that oversees 18 agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency. Gabbard ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and later made a hard pivot to supporting Trump. She has stirred controversy for making comments sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin after his 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Gabbard also met in 2017 with recently ousted Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who has used chemical weapons on his own people as part of the Syrian civil war. Both Assad and Putin are under U.S. sanctions. “For someone to have this history of comments that appear to be pro-Putin and pro-Assad, who have historically been our enemies, to head up our intelligence to me is a bit baffling,” McCaul said during an interview in his Capitol Hill office Tuesday. When asked if Gabbard’s selection caused him concern, McCaul said, “Yes.” Gabbard has argued against continued aid for Ukraine in its defense against Russia — a priority that McCaul has fought hard for throughout his time in Congress. She said in 2022 that the “war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns.” Gabbard is still subject to confirmation by the Senate, and several senators have kept quiet on how they would vote on her nomination. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, met with Gabbard in his Washington office on Wednesday
DONALD TRUMP TULSI GABBARD MICHAEL MCCAUL INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY RUSSIA SYRIA UKRAINE
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Duckworth Calls Gabbard 'Compromised' After Trump Taps Her for Intelligence ChiefSenator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) expressed concerns about former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's fitness to lead the intelligence community after President-elect Donald Trump nominated her for the position. Duckworth cited Gabbard's past support for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and her criticism of U.S. intelligence operations, suggesting she might be 'compromised' and potentially a 'Russian asset'.
Read more »
Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised'Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country.
Read more »
Republicans reject claims intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard is 'compromised'Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country. The accusation came from Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Read more »
Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised'Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country.
Read more »
Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised'Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country.
Read more »
Republicans lash out at claims that Trump intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard is 'compromised'Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq, said she had concerns about Trump's choice to be national intelligence director.
Read more »