Gabbard, RFK Jr.

Tlosi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They are watching the crucial tests on Tuesday, as the Senate Committees will decide whether to advance their nominations to the floor in the midst of the growing pressure of President Trump’s allies.

The couple of contentious candidates are facing key panel votes that will determine the future of Trump’s election to run the United States intelligence apparatus and the Department of Health and Human Services, respectively.

The votes will come a few days after each of them had dangerous moments during the confirmation audiences that seem to raise new doubts among the GOP legislators.

The Senate Finance Committee will vote on Tuesday morning in Kennedy, while the intelligence group is expected to do so at the closed doors for Gabbard in the afternoon.

“I think (both) will be fine,” said Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), A maximum ally of Trump and the leader of the majority of the Senate, John Thune (Rs.d.).

“I was very trusted in (Kennedy) throughout the process. … I said we had work to do with TLosi. Tlosi has done the job and I feel good where we are.”

Neither Gabbard nor Kennedy is expected to gain any support from the Democrats and have to win the skeptical Republicans in the Committees.

For Gabbard, the key republican vote is Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.). There are nine Republicans in the group and eight Democrats, which means that Young could end Gabbard’s possibilities if he votes against her.

Young was one of the various Republicans and Democrats that pressed Gabbard as to whether I thought Edward Snowden, a former NSAontractor who leaked documents classified by his and fled the United States, is a traitor.

He repeatedly said that Snowden violated the law, but refused to label his treacherous acts.

Young, a former marine intelligence officer who never formally approved the 2024 Trump campaign, was visibly gunned up while questioning Gabbard on the subject.

“It is noteworthy that you did not say,” Yes, it did clearly, in various ways, to our national security, “Young responded at a moment.

Its potential opposition pushed Trump allies to Overdrive during the weekend to pressure on him.

He directed this effort was Elon Musk, who published in X that the Indiana Republican is “a deep puppet of the state.” Musk finally suppressed the post after talking directly with Young, later saying that the senator is “a great ally to restore power to the people of the vast unacquelt bureaucracy.”

A young spokesman told The Hill that the two had a “great conversation in various policy issues and areas where they have a shared interest, such as DOGE”.

The Indian Senator stated that he was still indecisive, saying, “Tomorrow you will not hear more.”

However, the most important Senate Republicans were young optimistic.

“Todd is in a good place. I think Elon handled it very well. … I think Todd does what he did (Senator Thom Tillis), “he continued Mullin, noting how the North Carolina Senator tried to find clarity about the allegations that he faced with the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the hours before its vote to lead the Pentagon.

“He is very methodical, asking the correct questions, trying where he must be to feel -where he has to go,” said Mullin.

Gabbard also won a great victory on the eve of the group’s vote, as Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who had also been considered a swing vote, announced that he will support her. Collins had previously stated that he was worried about Gabbard’s position in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but said in a statement that comments on Snowden and the role of DNI pushed it into the column “Aye”.

Collins also told journalists that Gabbard “further elaborated his reluctance” to label Snowden a traitor.

In the meantime, Kennedy also has a unique approach: to win the support of Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Member of the Finance Committee that could end up with their confirmation hopes.

Cassidy, a medical physician, was visibly upset during Thursday’s hearing after he gave Kennedy multiple opportunities to get out of the unfounded statements he made in the past that linked autism cases to vaccines. Kennedy refused and finally told an exasperat Cassidy that he could meet with the senator to show him more information.

“I have been fighting with your candidacy,” Cassidy told Kennedy at the end of the health of the Senate Health, Education, Work and Pensions Committee (HELP) on Thursday. Kennedy appeared for two confirmation audiences, but only the Finance Committee will vote on whether he will be avoided. Cassidy sits on the two panels.

The Louisiana Republican told Monday to the Capitol journalists that he was still “working” in Kennedy’s candidacy, adding that his discussion over the weekend was “cordial”.

Republican leaders indicated that the talks continued to achieve the couple through each panel.

“We continue to talk to our members,” said John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)

There have been talks around the Capitol about the possibility of making Gabbard vote a flat, even if he does not win the support of the nine GOP members in the group, although it is unclear if the Republicans will try to maneuver.

Normally, candidates are voted “favorably” or “unfavorably”, but Trump members and allies have left open the possibility of allowing -escape the panel without any formal recommendation. Mick Mulvaney became director of the Management and Budget Office in 2017 after a similar maneuver at the Committee level.

However, Thune said last week that he does not see this happening.

However, the White House is optimistic about its ability to obtain the green light of the members.

“I have received a great answer,” Trump told the Oval Office about his perspectives. “I think we will do well.”

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