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Gabbard’s Team Issues Statement About Potential Hearing

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Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard attends a campaign rally of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

Senate Democrats, led by Virginia’s Mark Warner, are pulling out every bureaucratic trick in the book to stall Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The reason? Well, Warner claims it’s because they haven’t received her ethics disclosure, pre-hearing questionnaire, or FBI background check. But anyone paying attention knows this isn’t about missing paperwork—it’s about politics, plain and simple.

Let’s get one thing straight: Gabbard, a decorated military officer and former Congresswoman, already holds a high-level military security clearance. That means her background check process isn’t just thorough—it’s already fast-tracked. And according to sources familiar with the process, Gabbard has met every deadline required of her.

So why the stall? Why the smoke and mirrors? Well, according to reports, Warner has been actively preventing other Democrats on the committee from meeting with Gabbard. Yes, you read that right—the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee has allegedly been playing gatekeeper, blocking his own colleagues from engaging with Trump’s nominee. And just to drive home the point, Warner’s office reportedly took over a month to respond to an email from Gabbard’s team sent all the way back in November.

Meanwhile, some Senate Democrats are beginning to crack under the pressure of reality. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has already met with Gabbard and made it clear that it’s not only appropriate but necessary for Senators to engage with the President-elect’s nominees. At least someone on the other side of the aisle is still interested in doing their job.

But Warner? Oh no, he’s too busy setting up procedural roadblocks and playing partisan games. And make no mistake—this delay isn’t about Tulsi Gabbard herself. It’s about Trump. It’s about making sure his nominees face as much resistance and obstruction as possible, regardless of their qualifications or readiness to serve.

Gabbard’s spokeswoman, Alexa Henning, hit the nail on the head when she said, “It’s sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans’ safety and our national security.” After the terrorist attacks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, you’d think the Senate Intelligence Committee would be working overtime to ensure the nation’s top intelligence officer is confirmed swiftly. Instead, they’re dragging their feet while America’s adversaries are undoubtedly taking note.

And let’s not pretend this kind of obstruction is standard procedure. In past transitions, both parties have worked together to confirm national security nominees before Inauguration Day to ensure seamless transitions and avoid gaps in leadership. But bipartisanship, it seems, is a relic of a bygone era—especially when it comes to Trump’s nominees.

Here’s the bottom line: Tulsi Gabbard is qualified. She’s capable. And she’s ready to step into the role of DNI. Senate Democrats know this, but they’re hoping that by slow-walking her confirmation, they can score political points with their base.

But this isn’t a game. America’s national security isn’t something to toy with for the sake of partisan optics. Every day that Gabbard’s confirmation is delayed, it sends a message—not just to our allies, but to our enemies—that Washington is more interested in political theater than in protecting the nation.

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