Nearly 100 former national security officials 'alarmed' at prospect of Gabbard leading intel community
Nearly 100 former national security officials signed a letter criticizing President-elect Donald Trump's decision to nominate former Rep.
Nearly 100 former national security officials signed a letter criticizing President-elect Donald Trump's decision to nominate former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and called for closed-door Senate hearings to review any government information about her.
In the letter obtained by NBC News, the officials urged the Senate to "carefully evaluate" whether Gabbard is "equipped" for the position, which requires Senate confirmation.
"Several of Ms. Gabbard’s past actions call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus," the letter said. "Following her trip to Syria, for example, Ms. Gabbard aligned herself with Russian and Syrian officials."
The former officials also proposed closed-door hearings that would allow lawmakers to fully review any government files on Gabbard, a former Democratic House member from Hawaii.
“Senate committees should consider in closed sessions all information available to the U.S. government when considering Ms. Gabbard’s qualifications to manage our country’s intelligence agencies, and more importantly, the protection of our intelligence sources and methods," they wrote.
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