Former U.S. Diplomats and Intelligence Officials Call for Closed-Door Briefings on Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination as Director of National Intelligence

 

Nearly 100 former U.S. diplomats, intelligence officials, and national security experts have urged the Senate to conduct closed-door briefings regarding the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. The letter, signed by prominent figures such as former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, raises concerns about Gabbard's ties to controversial foreign leaders and her lack of intelligence experience.

The letter criticizes Gabbard for her alleged “sympathy for dictators” such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It highlights her meeting with Assad in 2017, which was described as “uncoordinated,” and her promotion of conspiracy theories regarding the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gabbard has publicly doubted the use of chemical weapons by Assad’s regime and raised unfounded claims about U.S. biological labs in Ukraine.

The former officials urge the Senate to fully vet Gabbard's qualifications through hearings and closed sessions, especially concerning her ability to protect intelligence sources and methods. They argue that her judgment and fitness for the role are in question due to her controversial foreign policy stances and public statements aligning her with Russian and Syrian officials.

Gabbard and her supporters have dismissed the accusations, calling them part of a smear campaign. They argue that her position against military intervention in Syria and Ukraine has been misrepresented by critics. Gabbard, who has described herself as both a hawk in the fight against terrorism and a dove on regime change wars, has consistently voiced her opposition to U.S. interventionist policies in the Middle East.

The letter also notes concerns raised by former staffers, who were worried about Gabbard’s handling of sensitive intelligence, particularly during her interactions with Syrian whistleblowers. These concerns underscore the growing opposition to her potential appointment and the ongoing debate over her foreign policy views.