Tulsi Gabbard explains why she won’t call Edward Snowden a ‘traitor’ ahead of tough committee vote

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence (DNI), recently sought to address concerns raised by senators during her confirmation hearing in a new opinion piece. The focus of the discussion centered around Gabbard’s reluctance to label Edward Snowden as a “traitor” for his whistleblowing actions.

While Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden’s actions in releasing classified information to the media had harmed national security, she also pointed out that his actions had exposed illegal and unconstitutional government surveillance programs that infringed on the privacy of millions of Americans. In a Newsweek op-ed, Gabbard explained her reasoning behind not using the term “traitor” lightly, noting that treason is a capital offense punishable by death.

During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard emphasized that Snowden should have raised his concerns about illegal surveillance through authorized channels, such as the Inspector General or the Intelligence Committee, rather than leaking information to the media. However, as a member of the House, she had introduced a resolution with former Rep. Matt Gaetz calling for all charges against Snowden to be dropped and had advocated for additional whistleblower protections.

If confirmed as DNI, Gabbard pledged to establish a hotline for whistleblowers to report concerns directly to her and to implement proper oversight to prevent illegal intelligence collection programs. She also vowed to end the “weaponization” of the intelligence community and highlighted the Iraq War as a prime example of intelligence failures that led to disastrous consequences.

Despite initial skepticism from some Republican senators, Gabbard has garnered support from key members of the GOP, including Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. Sen. Todd Young, who initially had reservations about Gabbard’s nomination, announced his support after receiving assurances about her perspective on whistleblowers.

While Gabbard has secured backing from several Republican senators, including James Lankford, John Cornyn, and Susan Collins, she still faces opposition from others, such as Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, and John Curtis. With the support of every Republican on the committee and no Democratic votes in her favor, Gabbard’s confirmation as DNI remains uncertain.

In conclusion, Gabbard’s efforts to assuage senators’ concerns about her nomination and her stance on Edward Snowden reflect her commitment to transparency, oversight, and accountability within the intelligence community. As the confirmation process continues, Gabbard will need to navigate political divides and garner bipartisan support to secure the role of director of national intelligence.