The confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead U.S. intelligence, has been delayed due to the absence of an FBI background check, ethics disclosure, and a pre-hearing questionnaire required by Senate Intelligence Committee rules.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, raised concerns after meeting with Gabbard on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Warner said, “I went in with a lot of questions. I’ve still got a lot of questions.”
Warner emphasized the importance of the role, stating, “This is an extraordinarily serious job that requires maintaining the independence of the intelligence community. It also means maintaining the cooperation of our allies. We’ve got a lot of our intelligence from our allies on a sharing basis, and if that information is not kept secure, it raises huge concern. So…we’ve got a number of questions out for her. This is the beginning of a process.”
Chad Pergram of Fox News reported Warner’s remarks on social media, summarizing the senator’s concerns about Gabbard’s readiness and the implications of the position.
According to Axios, Warner and other Senate Democrats pushed for the delay, citing the incomplete background check and procedural requirements. “Committee rules require the background check a week in advance of a hearing,” a source told Axios.
Despite the delay, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) expressed his intent to proceed promptly, stating, “I intend to hold these hearings before Inauguration Day. The Intelligence Committee, the nominees, and the transition are diligently working toward that goal.”
However, the delay has sparked partisan tensions. Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning criticized Warner and Senate Democrats, saying, “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.”
Gabbard’s nomination has faced scrutiny due to her controversial foreign policy positions, including past statements seen as sympathetic to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin. She also made headlines during Trump’s first term by harshly criticizing his foreign policy, accusing him of “pimping” out U.S. troops and being Saudi Arabia’s “bitch.”
