A Republican senator said the Senate Intelligence Committee has “a lot of questions” for Tulsi Gabbard about a visit to Syria where she met with President Bashar al-Assad.
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, who sits on the committee, said he wants to know the “circumstances” and “purpose” of his meeting with the Syrian dictator in 2017 before endorsing him as Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence.
“We will have many questions. He met with Bashar Assad, we’re going to want to know what the intent was and what the intent was, as a member of Congress,” Lankford told CNN’s Dana Bash. State of the Union.
“We want to have an opportunity to talk about what he has said in the past and for him to put it in full context.”
Lankford said the committee will “reveal everything” about Gabbard, and has talked about her “outspokenness” in the past.
Gabbard has previously made statements and comments that have been supportive of Russia and denied the crimes committed by the Syrian government. In 2017, as a member of the Democratic House from Hawaii, he flew to Syria for a meeting with Assad.
Tulsi Gabbard will face questions from the Senate about her 2017 meeting with the Syrian dictator (AFP via Getty Images)
“We will go with the feeling. We will bring everything out. We’re going to get the facts and information and get the whole story,” Lankford said.
“He is the person who was free to speak. It is clear that he is a former member of the military. He is a real fighter.”
Despite Lankford’s comments, several other Republicans were quick to defend Gabbard after her nomination by Trump raised concerns about her past statements and ties to foreign governments.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and Iraq war veteran, warned on Sunday that Gabbard was “wrong” about his comments about Russia and the Syria trip.
“The US intelligence community has identified him as having a troubling relationship with America’s enemies. So my concern is that he can’t pass a background check,” said Duckworth State of the Union.
But Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri said it was “ridiculous” to say Gabbard was “impaired.”
“I think it’s — it’s really interesting that anybody who has a different political opinion is now being cast as a Russian thing. It’s absolutely disgusting,” told NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Meet the Press.
US Senator James Lankford, from Oklahoma, said the Senate Intelligence Committee has ‘a lot of questions’ about Trump’s nomination (EPA)
“Tulsi Gabbard served in our military. She served as a representative from Hawaii, as a Democrat, I might add, part of this extraordinary coalition that President Trump put together and won and achieved that. But I think it’s a travesty. A travesty, frankly,” he added.
Gabbard, a veteran and former House Democrat, has promoted conspiracy theories about the US invasion of Ukraine.
The former congresswoman from Hawaii left Congress to launch an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020. She joined the Republican Party earlier this year, supported Trump and joined his presidential transition team.
Gabbard joined the military after serving 17 years in the Hawaii National Guard, and points to his deployment experience to explain his skepticism about US military intervention.
Trump praised Gabbard for fighting for “our country and the liberties of all Americans,” when he appointed her to the post.
“As a former Democratic Presidential Nominee, he has strong support across all parties – now a proud Republican!” Trump said. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her excellent work to our Intelligence Community, to fight for our Constitutional Rights, and to preserve Peace through Strength.”