President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the nation's intelligence community has sharply criticized the agencies' positions under previous presidents, accusing them of using their powers to sabotage Mr. Trump and of trying to tarnish her reputation.
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday that she would bring "a fresh perspective" if confirmed as director of national intelligence and restore trust in the 18-agency intelligence community, which she said is "at an all-time low."
"For too long, flawed, inadequate or politically manipulated intelligence has led to costly failures and the undermining of our national security and God-given freedoms," Ms. Gabbard said during her confirmation hearing.
"The bottom line is this: this must end," she said. "The re-election of President Trump is a clear mandate from the American people to end this cycle of failure and the politicization of the intelligence community."
Ms. Gabbard also attacked those who have criticized her nomination, arguing that she is "loyal to something or someone other than God, my conscience and the Constitution of the United States," she said. "What really bothers my political opponents is that I refuse to be their puppet," she said in her opening statement.
Mr. Trump's decision to nominate Ms. Gabbard to the post immediately after his victory in the November presidential election caught some lawmakers and former intelligence officials by surprise.
A former Democratic lawmaker from the state of Hawaii and a former Democratic presidential candidate, she is a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, with service in Iraq and Kuwait. But she has not held any senior leadership positions.
Ms. Gabbard has also faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats for statements she has made about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, wiretapping methods and a bill she has proposed to pardon Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor accused of leaking thousands of classified documents before eventually fleeing to Russia.
Ms. Gabbard has also been criticized for a trip to Syria in 2017, during which she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad.
"It's safe to say that Ms. Gabbard's nomination has garnered more interest and attention than most candidates before this committee," said the committee's chairman, Republican Tom Cotton, as the hearing was underway.
But Mr. Cotton, who earlier told Fox News that Ms. Gabbard is prepared to take on the role of top US intelligence official, also said he was shocked by the attacks on her patriotism and loyalty.
"I can't help but laugh at some critics who say Ms. Gabbard has unconventional views," he told lawmakers. "But look where conventional thinking has gotten us. Maybe Washington needs a little more unconventional thinking."
However, other lawmakers had other ideas.
"I continue to have deep concerns about your judgment and qualifications," said committee vice chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat. "Repeatedly, you have excused the worst actions of our adversaries, [and] instead have often placed the blame on the United States," he said. "I simply do not believe, given your judgment and the issues with your credibility, that this is the right role for you."
Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee repeatedly questioned Ms. Gabbard about her statements regarding the Snowden case, despite her assertion that if confirmed, she would not apologize to him.
Ms. Gabbard, however, repeatedly refused to fully condemn Snowden's actions, saying that although he broke the law, he also exposed illegal actions and pushed for needed reforms.
"My focus is on my commitment to the Constitution and the security of our nation," she told Republican Senator James Lankford, who asked her 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 disappointment with Ms. Gabbard's responses.
"It's time for you to answer the questions of those whose votes you are seeking to confirm as the head of intelligence for this country," Senator Bennet told Ms. Gabbard, before turning to his fellow lawmakers: "Can't we pick someone better?"
Attitude towards Russia and Ukraine
Other lawmakers asked Ms. Gabbard about comments she has made regarding Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“This war and this suffering could have been easily avoided if the Biden Administration and NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns,” Ms. Gabbard said on social media as Russia launched the war in 2022.
But Ms. Gabbard took a different stance during Thursday's hearing.
"Putin started the war in Ukraine," she told one senator, while laughing at another and saying she was offended by his question about whether she would tolerate Russia when assessing intelligence.
"My sole focus, commitment and responsibility are for our country, for our security and the interests of the American people," Ms Gabbard said, describing Russia as a "strategic competitor" with an arsenal of nuclear weapons.
"I promise you that I will be completely objective, impartial and apolitical, and I hope you understand my commitment to the interests of our country," she said.
Ms. Gabbard also defended her 2017 trip to Syria and her meeting with Assad, who had been accused by the US and others of using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.
"I asked him tough questions about the actions of his regime, the use of chemical weapons and the brutal tactics that were being used against his people," she said, defending the decision to make the trip.
Ms. Gabbard also raised concerns about China-linked hackers known as Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, calling out Beijing's ability to penetrate critical infrastructure and telecommunications systems.
"I have proven that I speak without fear of authority," Ms. Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday.
"I will do my best to uncover the truth, no matter where it leads, and I will share that truth with President Trump, his advisors, and you in Congress," she said./ Voice of America (A2 Televizion)
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