Nearly 100 former national security officials have signed a letter criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence. The officials expressed concerns about Gabbard’s past actions, such as aligning herself with Russian and Syrian officials after a trip to Syria, and called for closed-door Senate hearings to review government information about her. They argued that Gabbard, a former Democratic House member from Hawaii, may not be equipped to effectively oversee the National Intelligence Program. The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and incoming Majority Leader John Thune, who have not yet commented on the issue.
Gabbard has faced criticism in the past for sympathetic comments about U.S. adversaries and for casting doubt on the U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion regarding a chemical weapons attack in Syria. A spokesperson for Gabbard on the Trump transition team slammed the letter, calling the attacks unfounded and criticizing the signers’ credentials.
In addition to Gabbard, Trump’s expected nominees for other positions, such as Pete Hegseth for the Defense Department and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services, are also facing controversies and criticism. Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault and excessive drinking, while Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism has drawn backlash. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his name for consideration as attorney general, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct that he denies.
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