Tulsi Gabbard faces growing concern about her nomination after a tough confirmation hearing
Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for director of national intelligence could be in serious trouble after her confirmation hearing this past week, multiple people familiar with the matter told NBC News.
WASHINGTON — There is growing concern in political circles that Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for director of national intelligence could be in serious trouble after a confirmation hearing this past week that left even Republican senators openly questioning whether she should be put in such a critical role, multiple people familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Of particular concern is her refusal to answer directly when she was asked whether Edward Snowden, a former government contractor who leaked highly classified documents and then sought asylum in Russia, was a traitor.
“It’s 50-50 she gets through,” a person familiar with the confirmation process said of Gabbard.
Democratic senators are expected to unanimously oppose Gabbard’s confirmation in a full floor vote, which would mean she could afford to lose the support of only three GOP senators to get confirmed.
Many officials in the White House were “rattled” by Gabbard’s response to the Snowden question, a person familiar with the White House’s thinking said, adding that she seemed unprepared.
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