Kaine Statement on Tulsi Gabbard Ahead of Confirmation Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement ahead of the Senate’s vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI): 

“The safety of our communities and America’s national security should be a top priority for any senator. Therefore, I simply cannot support Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence. The person filling this role serves as one of the principal advisors to the President on national security matters, is trusted to safeguard our nation’s most sensitive secrets, and leads 18 intelligence agencies composed of men and women who have dedicated their lives to the safety and security of the United States. Tulsi Gabbard is not the right person to hold this critical position, especially at a time when we are facing threats from a rising China, Russia, Iran, and other bad actors around the world. Gabbard’s previous praise of authoritarians like Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad and her support for Edward Snowden show a deep lack of judgement and raise significant questions about her ability to do this job. I worry that allies will be more reluctant to share critical information with the U.S. if people like Gabbard hold key intelligence posts. Many of my Republican colleagues share these concerns and have expressed deep reservations behind closed doors about her holding this position; if they confirm her to this post, it will be yet another example of their inability to stand up to President Trump in defense of our national security.”

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