Tulsi Gabbard took aim at the intelligence community’s weaponization during a heated Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. She faced tough questions on Edward Snowden and Section 702 of FISA.
Senators went after her past comments on foreign policy and surveillance. In her opening statement, she slammed political attacks and the intelligence community’s bias.
“Those who oppose my nomination imply that I am loyal to something or someone other than God, my own conscience and the Constitution of the United States,” Gabbard said. “Accusing me of being Trump’s puppet, Putin’s puppet, Assad’s puppet, a guru’s puppet, Modi’s puppet … The fact is what truly unsettles my political opponents is I refuse to be their puppet.”
She called out the FBI’s abuse of power, including illegal FISA surveillance on Carter Page. She also pointed to the infamous letter from 51 former intelligence officials suggesting Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation.
Gabbard didn’t hold back on the FBI’s controversial moves. She criticized its leaked memo targeting “radical traditionalist Catholics.” She also claimed she had been placed on a TSA domestic terror watch list known as Quiet Skies.
Former North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr introduced and endorsed her. He praised her military service and urged senators to support her. Burr’s backing carries weight—he chaired the committee before and has influence over skeptical Republicans.
“I refuse to question the qualifications of a woman who has worn the uniform of her nation for 22 years and never taken it off,” Burr said. “No fewer than five times has the Department of Defense reviewed her security clearance and extended it — every single time.”
Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst also spoke in support of Gabbard. She highlighted Gabbard’s military service and willingness to serve in a Republican administration despite her Democratic past.
Ernst’s support could sway hesitant Republicans. She has opposed some of Trump’s nominees in the past but backed Gabbard. Ernst, an establishment Republican, has also supported military aid to Ukraine, setting her apart from some in her party.