Former Democratic congresswoman turned President Donald Trump supporter Tulsi Gabbard is one step closer to leading the U.S. intelligence community following a party-line vote in the Senate Intelligence Committee.
All nine Republicans on the committee voted late Tuesday to send Gabbard's nomination to serve as director of national intelligence for a vote before the full Senate.
The committee's eight Democrats voted against Gabbard's nomination.
Trump praised Gabbard's "fearless spirit" when he first nominated her for the top U.S. intelligence post in November.
But the former Democratic representative from the state of Hawaii, and a one-time Democratic presidential candidate, has faced criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who have questioned her experience and some of her past statements.
"It's fair to say Ms. Gabbard's nomination has generated a bit more interest and attention than do most nominees before this committee," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, a Republican, acknowledged during Gabbard's confirmation hearing last week.
During the hearing, Gabbard was questioned repeatedly by both Republicans and Democrats about Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor accused of leaking thousands of classified documents before ultimately fleeing to Russia, and specifically about legislation she introduced to pardon him.
But each time they asked whether she considered Snowden a traitor, Gabbard declined to answer.
"Senator, my heart is with my commitment to our Constitution and our nation's security," Gabbard said during one exchange with Republican Senator James Lankford.
Senators also questioned Gabbard about a 2017 trip to Syria, during which she met with then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite allegations he had used chemical weapons against civilians, and about her comments about Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
"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."
In the days since the hearing, however, Gabbard managed to find common ground with the committee's Republican senators.
"In response to my questions during our discussion in my office and at the open hearing, as well as through her explanation at the closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden," Republican Susan Collins said in a statement late Monday.
"I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to strengthen our national security," Collins added.
Republican Senator Todd Young, likewise, voiced his backing for Gabbard's nomination early Tuesday, before the committee's vote.
"I appreciate Tulsi Gabbard's engagement with me on a variety of issues to ensure that our intelligence professionals will be supported, and policymakers will receive unbiased information under her leadership," Young posted on social media platform X. "Having now secured these commitments, I will support Tulsi's nomination."
Young also shared a letter from Gabbard, in which she pledged to hold U.S. intelligence employees and contractors accountable for intelligence leaks and to "not advocate for any protections which should only be extended to lawful and legitimate whistleblowers."
Gabbard, in the letter, further promised to not make any recommendation "regarding the legal standing of Edward Snowden" to the U.S. attorney general or to President Trump.
And she pledged to support the use of warrantless surveillance capabilities despite her opposition to the program while she was a lawmaker.
