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Trump’s transition team accuses Senate Democrats of ‘murdering’ Confirmation by Tulsi Gabbard to the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
A hearing has not yet been set President-elect Trump The ID pick, though Republicans pushed for Gabbard’s nomination to be one of the first to be considered for national security concerns. The possible delay in his hearing was first reported by axes.
The committee rules state that the Senate Intelligence Select Committee It cannot hold a hearing unless all necessary paperwork is received at least a week in advance, the office of Intel Vice President Mark Warner, D-Va., told Fox News Digital.
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Chairman Mark Warner speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
According to Warner’s office, the committee has not yet received Gabbard’s pre-hearing questions or an ethics disclosure. They also have not received a copy of their background check from the FBI.
However, a spokesman for Gabbard and the Trump transition team pushed back. According to the transition, the paperwork that was due on December 18th was filed, the FBI background check has been done, and an additional round of paperwork is due on Thursday and will be completed then
The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s question about whether the background check had been provided to the Intel Committee.
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Trump chose Gabbard to lead the ID. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
The transition team also noted that Gabbard has a top-secret security clearance from his military service, meaning his background check was expedited.
Gabbard’s spokesman claimed Warner was instructing Democratic members of the committee not to set up meetings with her until she had, outlining her meeting process. According to them, Warner’s office received an email on November 27, but did not respond until December 29.
“After the terrorist attacks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, it is sad to see Senator Warner and the Democrats playing politics with the safety of Americans and our national security by suppressing the nomination of Lt. Col. Gabbard, who is willing to meet with all members. who will meet with her as this process continues,” transition spokeswoman Alexa Henning said.
“It is vital that the Senate quickly confirm President-elect Trump’s national security nominees, which in the past has been a bipartisan effort. We are working closely with President Cotton and look forward to Lt. Col. Gabbard’s hearing before opening day”.
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Ossoff met with Gabbard last month. (Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)
The only Democrat to skip that purported directive was Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., the transition team said. The two met last month at the Capitol.
Gabbard’s team added that Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Angus King, I-Maine, only responded after Warner’s team finally confirmed their meeting.
Warner’s office denied issuing any such directive to Democratic members. “This is completely false. Vice Chairman Warner has encouraged all Senators on the Committee to meet with the nominee (as he has done), carefully evaluate his experience, record and statements for themselves, and come to their own conclusions about whether the candidate has the qualifications and background for this critical role,” spokeswoman Rachel Cohen told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Intel’s vice president met with Gabbard in person on Tuesday. “I had a session with Mrs. Gabbard, I came in with a lot of questions. I still have a lot of questions,” Warner said afterward.
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Cotton is now chairman of the Intel Committee. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“This is an extraordinarily serious job that requires maintaining the independence of the intelligence community. It also means maintaining the cooperation of our allies. We share much of our intelligence from our allies, and if they. .. this information is not kept safe, it raises a great concern. So, you know, we have a series of questions for her.
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A spokesman for Intel’s new chairman, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told Fox News Digital in a statement: “Chairman Cotton intends to hold these hearings before Inauguration Day. The Committee on “Intelligence, the nominees and the transition are diligently working towards this goal.”
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that the committee has not yet asked Gabbard for her written responses to advance policy questions and emphasized that she cannot respond to something that has not yet been received.
