National Security Threatened as Senate Democrats Delay Tulsi Gabbard Confirmation [WATCH]

Senate Democrats, led by Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, are delaying the confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard.

The hearing, originally scheduled for mid-January, is now in limbo due to procedural concerns raised by Warner, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

According to a report by Axios, Warner claims the committee has not yet received Gabbard’s ethics disclosure, pre-hearing questionnaire, or an FBI background check.

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However, a source familiar with the process told the Daily Caller that Gabbard, a former congresswoman and military veteran, has met all required deadlines.

Due to her existing military clearance, her background check process has been fast-tracked.

The source further alleged that Warner’s office has been unresponsive to Gabbard’s team, taking over a month to reply to an email sent in November.

Warner is also accused of preventing other Democratic senators on the Intelligence Committee from meeting with Gabbard prior to her confirmation hearing.

Some Senate Democrats have expressed a willingness to engage with Gabbard despite the delays. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told the National Review: “I hope to meet [Gabbard]. I think we will wait until after the chairman meets with her.” Warner is reportedly scheduled to meet with Gabbard on Tuesday, according to Axios.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand tells @NRO Senate Intel Dems will likely wait to meet w/ Tulsi Gabbard until after Intel Chairman Mark Warner does.

Gillibrand: “I hope to meet with her. I think we will wait until after the chairman meets with her.”

(Gabbard’s met w/ Ossoff & Fetterman) https://t.co/Gl9kh6eWnk

— Audrey Fahlberg (@AudreyFahlberg) December 18, 2024

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman also met with Gabbard in December, stating, “I believe that it’s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees.”

I believe that it’s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees.

That’s why I met with Elise Stefanik and Pete Hegseth, just wrapped with Tulsi Gabbard, and look forward to my meetings with others soon.

My… pic.twitter.com/Vli5tr8XSr

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) December 17, 2024

John Fetterman Signals He’s Going To Vote to Confirm Many of Trump’s Nominees

Senators John Fetterman and Katie Britt joined Special Report with Bret Baier to discuss the confirmation process for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees, including Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. The… pic.twitter.com/xhRBlZqvnu

— RVM News (@redvoicenews) January 8, 2025

Alexa Henning, a spokeswoman for Gabbard’s transition team, criticized Warner and Senate Democrats for politicizing the confirmation process. “After the terrorist attacks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, it’s sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans’ safety and our national security by stonewalling Lt. Col. Gabbard’s nomination, who is willing to meet with every member who will meet with her as this process continues,” Henning told the Daily Caller.

She emphasized the importance of swiftly confirming Trump’s national security nominees. “It is vital the Senate confirms President-elect Trump’s national security nominees swiftly, which in the past has been a bipartisan effort. We are working in lockstep with Chairman [Tom] Cotton and look forward to Lt. Col. Gabbard’s hearing before Inauguration Day,” Henning added.

Oh Dems playing politics with national security? Nothing new.

Lt. Col. @TulsiGabbard has met all deadlines of required paperwork and vetting.

Mark Warner is playing games with Americans’ national security and safety. https://t.co/8FbKCawMH2

— Alexa Henning (@alexahenning) January 7, 2025

Gabbard has already met with several Republican senators, including Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

These meetings demonstrate her efforts to build bipartisan relationships ahead of the confirmation process.

In addition to Gabbard, Trump’s other high-profile nominees are advancing in the confirmation process.

Tulsi is confident after getting support from Republican Senators and the senate intelligence committee. She has open heartedly proposed to meet democratic Party senators too.

Alabama @SenTuberville has announced 100% support to @TulsiGabbard for DNI . pic.twitter.com/ey8ONc8hdL

— Tulsi For President (@TulsiPotus) January 8, 2025

Kash Patel, the nominee for FBI Director, met with Republican senators in December.

Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for Attorney General, is scheduled for her confirmation hearing in mid-January, according to sources cited by Politico.

The delays in Gabbard’s confirmation hearing underscore the heightened political tensions surrounding the transition of power and the scrutiny faced by Trump’s national security nominees.

Whether Gabbard’s hearing will proceed before Inauguration Day remains uncertain.

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