Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reportedly added to the list of skeptics on Thursday by hinting that former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s candidacy as director of national intelligence may be in doubt due to her prior association with whistleblowers.
“I’m worried by what I hear from some of my Republican colleagues. I’m worried that her nomination may be in jeopardy,” Hawley said during a recent Fox News appearance.
“And I’m just worried about what that will mean,” he continued.
“Her ‘sin’ is that she challenges the surveillance state. She told the truth about the government spying on Americans and about the abuses of FISA. She went out there and was honest about it, and for that, she is getting absolutely roasted and persecuted.” Hawley added.
Gabbard was widely criticized for meeting with former Syrian leader Bashar Assad prior to the fall of his regime and for making earlier claims that Edward Snowden should be pardoned for disclosing classified information about international government surveillance programs.
Gabbard was appointed by President Trump to lead the intelligence community.
During the Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, she further stated that she would no longer fight for or support the clemency for famous whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The Republican from Missouri, who has backed the former Democratic senator, outlined criticisms of national intelligence and contended that Gabbard’s leadership would bring about “reform.”
His Republican colleagues, however, are less certain that Gabbard is the best candidate for the position.
Disdain for the candidate has also been expressed by Democratic senators who have strong connections to ranking Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the pre-Trump deep state.
[READ MORE: Tulsi Gabbard Shreds Deep State in Opening Statement]
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