U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to lead the country's intelligence apparatus launched a broadside against the conduct of those agencies under previous presidents, accusing them of wielding their power to undermine Trump while also seeking to smear her reputation.
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday she would bring "fresh eyes" if confirmed as director of national intelligence and restore faith in the intelligence community's 18 agencies, which she said is at "an all-time low."
"For too long, faulty, inadequate, or weaponized intelligence have led to costly failures and the undermining of our national security and God-given freedoms," Gabbard said during her nomination hearing.
"The bottom line is this — this must end," she said. "President Trump's reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure, and the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community."
Gabbard also lashed out at those who have criticized her nomination by arguing she is "loyal to something or someone other than God, my own conscience and the Constitution of the United States," she said.
"What truly unsettles my political opponents is I refuse to be their puppet," she said in her opening statement.
Trump's decision to nominate Gabbard for the post shortly after his victory in November's presidential election caught some lawmakers and former intelligence officials by surprise.
The former Democratic representative from the state of Hawaii, and a one-time Democratic presidential candidate, is a 20-year-plus veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard with tours in Iraq and Kuwait. But while she was awarded a combat medical badge, she has not held any senior leadership positions.
Gabbard has also faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for statements she has made about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the use of wireless surveillance, and for legislation she introduced to pardon Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor accused of leaking thousands of classified documents before ultimately fleeing to Russia.
There also have been criticisms of a 2017 trip Gabbard took to Syria, during which she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad.
"It's fair to say Ms. Gabbard's nomination has generated a bit more interest and attention than do most nominees before this committee," said Republican committee chairman Tom Cotton, as the hearing got underway.
But Cotton, who earlier told Fox News that Gabbard is ready to assume the role of the top U.S intelligence official, also said he was dismayed by attacks on her patriotism and loyalty.
"I can only laugh at some critics who say that Ms. Gabbard has unconventional views," he told lawmakers. "But look at where conventional thinking has got us. Maybe Washington could use a little more unconventional thinking."
Other lawmakers, though, were not equally impressed.
"I continue to have significant concerns about your judgment and your qualifications," said committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat.
"Repeatedly, you have excused our adversaries' worst actions, [and] instead often blame them on the United States," he said. "I respectfully just don't believe, on your judgment and your credibility issues, that this is the appropriate role for you to take going forward."
Senate Intelligence Committee members questioned Gabbard repeatedly about her statements regarding Snowden, despite Gabbard's testimony that, if confirmed, she would not push for him to be pardoned.
Gabbard, however, repeatedly declined to fully condemn Snowden's actions, saying that while he broke the law, he also exposed unlawful actions and prompted needed reforms.
"My heart is with my commitment to our Constitution and our nation's security," she told Republican Senator James Lankford, who asked if she considered Snowden a traitor. "I'm focused on the future and how we can prevent something like this from happening again."
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet expressed frustration with Gabbard's responses.
"This is when you need to answer the questions of the people whose votes you're asking for to be confirmed as the chief intelligence of this nation," Bennet told Gabbard, before asking his fellow lawmakers, "Can't we do better?"
Russia-Ukraine stance
Other lawmakers questioned Gabbard about comments she has made about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia's legitimate security concerns," Gabbard said on social media as Russia began its invasion in 2022.
But Gabbard took a different stance during Thursday's hearing.
"Putin started the war in Ukraine," she told one senator, while telling another she was offended by his question about whether she would give Russia "a pass" when evaluating intelligence.
"My sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people," Gabbard said, describing Russia as a "strategic competitor" with a concerning nuclear weapons arsenal.
"You have my commitment to be completely objective, unbiased and apolitical, and I hope you understand my commitment to our country's interests," she said.
Meeting with Syria's Assad
Gabbard also defended her 2017 trip to Syria and her meeting with Assad, who had been accused by the U.S. and others of using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.
"I asked him tough questions about his own regime's actions, the use of chemical weapons and the brutal tactics that were being used against his own people," she said, defending the decision to make the trip.
Gabbard likewise defended her newfound support of U.S. wireless surveillance capabilities despite opposition to the program while she was a lawmaker, citing recent reforms enacted by Congress to better protect the privacy of U.S. citizens.
Gabbard also raised concerns about Chinese-linked hackers known as Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, calling Beijing's ability to infiltrate critical infrastructure and telecommunications systems "an area of significant and great concern."
Some Senate Republicans had been making a strong push for Gabbard's confirmation even before the hearing got underway.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee took to X [on social media] to reject accusations that Gabbard is sympathetic to Russia.
"This is what the Deep State™️ does to reformers. We can't let the Deep State™️ win," Lee said in a post later re-posted by Trump ally and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, who heads the non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency.
"I have a long record of speaking truth to power," Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, saying she would also take it upon herself, if confirmed, to give Trump his daily intelligence briefings.
"I will do my very best to find the truth, no matter where it leads, and share that truth with President Trump, his advisers, and you in Congress," she said.
