Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard seemingly backtracked on previous statements regarding whether she believes now-toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on the country's population.
Asked by Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich about her 2017 trip to the Middle Eastern country, Gabbard said she met with al-Assad and "asked him tough questions about his own regime's actions," including the "use of chemical weapons and brutal tactics being used against his own people."
She went on to say that she did not extract any concessions from al-Assad following the meeting, and that she "didn't expect" to. The comments stand in contrast with others made by Gabbard in the past. The Associated Press recalled that she has said she was "skeptical" that the Assad regime used banned chemical weapons on his own people even though that was the conclusion of U.S. agencies and independent analysts.
"I have not seen that independent investigation occur and that proof presented showing exactly what happened and there are a number of theories of exactly what happened that day," Gabbard told CNN in 2017.
Another tense moment took place when Gabbard refused to retract her support for Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Russia after revealing illegal government surveillance methods.
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner asked Gabbard earlier at the hearing if she stood by her decision, especially considering that both Democrats and Republicans in the panel deem Snowden a traitor. To illustrate the stance, Warner quoted Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, who said Snowden is an "egotistical liar and a traitor who deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life."
Gabbard refused to agree, saying that "Edward Snowden broke the law.," and even though she does not "agree with all the information he released nor in the way he did it," he "released information that exposed egregious illegal and unconstitutional programs happening within our government."
Warner criticized the response, noting that Gabbard was refusing to give a straight answer on whether she continued to support Snowden or stand by the legislation she introduced. "I just don't believe on your judgement and credibility," Warner finished after criticizing other stances of Gabbard.
Back in 2019, Gabbard said "if it wasn't for Snowden, the American people would never have learned the NSA was collecting phone records and spying on Americans. As president, I will protect whistle-blowers who expose threats to our freedom and liberty."
Originally published on Latin Times
