Washington , Basil gabbardNomination for being National Intelligence Director of President Trump Before the hearing of its confirmation on Thursday, the senators are in crisis facing doubts.
A former Democratic Congress, a former Democratic Congress of Hawaii and Combat, faces a narrow path to confirm his decision to meet his decision to meet Gabbard, a narrow path Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad In 2017, his previous push to forgive the National Security Agency Whistbloor Edward SnowdenOn his thought Ukraine And his previous opposition to renewing a major government monitoring authority, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Monitoring Act.
If confirmed, the 43 -year -old, who has no background in intelligence, will be assigned to oversee 18 spy agencies of the country.
Last week, two sources told CBS News that Gabard's enrollment is at risk of blocking and the situation is called “fluid”. Kentaki's Mich McConel, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Men's Susan Colins are among the concerned Republicans about his nomination.
Colins sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee and can tip the scale against it. The Gabbard cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote on the panel, with nine GOP members and eight democrats.
Coalins said that on Monday she is demanding clarity from Gabbard about her position on Section 702. Gabard, who demanded the cancellation of the controversial law, has reversed its stance to the US government to collect the communications of foreigners abroad without any warrant. One in statement To punchbells earlier this month, Gabbard said that she now supports the monitoring authority, calling it “important” to protect national security.
He said, “My former concerns about FISA were based on insufficient security for civilian freedom, especially about the misuse of FBI of Warrantless Search Power on American citizens. My time in Congress to address these issues Since important FISA reforms have been implemented. ” “If confirmed as DNI, I will maintain the fourth amendment rights of Americans by maintaining important national security equipment like Section 702 to ensure the safety and freedom of American people.”
Coalins said Gabbard's response to his questions is “hedged and vague”.
In 2017, Syrian's secret visit in which he met with Assad, he is expected to focus another focus on Thursday. The visit to Gabbard faced outrage with his fellow MPs, who argued that it gives validity to a cruel dictator. Asad ran away from the country In December 2024, he had topped after his rule.
“When the opportunity arose to meet him, I did this because I felt that it was important that if we really care about the Syrians, then about their grief, then we are with anyone We are able to meet that we need if there is any possibility that we can achieve peace, “he said in 2017.
He also suspected whether Assad rule was behind one Chemical weapon attack On its own citizens, which international arms experts said that Syrian originated from government sites.
Sen Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican, who is not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told NBC's “Meat the Press” on Sunday that he would focus on Gabbard hearing.
Graham said, “I vote for almost everyone on both sides, but I want to see how the hearing takes place.” “Why did you go to Syria? What did you do about Assad [regime]Why do you think Edward Snowden should be held as a hero? I definitely not. ,
In 2020, Gabbard called for dismissing the allegations against Snowden, leaking a group of information about the top-patched public monitoring programs of the US government. Snowden, who was accused of espionage in 2013, is living in exile in Russia.
In 2022, Russia carried forward Gabbard after he launched a full -scale invasion on Ukraine, when he made statements that were seen as Russian publicity by some people.
“This war and suffering could be easily avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had accepted Russia's legitimate safety concerns about Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, which would mean the US/NATO forces on the Russian border Will be right, “that wrote Those days.
Kansas's Republican Sen Roger Marshal said on Wednesday that he hoped Gabbard's possible confirmation vote “really close”.
“I still believe,” he said. “I think he is an outsider, that he is an obstructed.”
Ed O'Kif And
Contributed to this report.