Gabard also collided with the opposition in some past contradictory positions, including her decision to meet and defend former Syrian President Bashar-Osada in 2017, as well as a preliminary pressure on pardon for human rights defender Edward Snowden.
At one point, Gabard was pressed by both republican and democratic senators as to whether it would classify Snowden – who moved to Russia to avoid US law enforcement – as a “traitor”. She refused to answer directly, saying only that he “violated the law”.
She added that he exposed “outrageous and unconstitutional programs” that led to the reforms, but stated that it would work to block future illegal leaks and disclosure.
Several senators also noted that Gabard defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of the war. Democratic Senator Michael Bennet accused Gabard of being “totalitarian state” justified to turn over the peaceful border of Ukraine. “
However, republican senators, who were originally skeptical of Gabard, eventually rallied behind it.
On Monday, Senator Susan Collins with Meng said Gabard had addressed her problems. A day later, Senator Todd Young of Indiana announced that he would also return Gabard after he provided his commitment to “promote our national security”.
Gabard is a former Congress with Hawaii and a military veteran who served in a medical department in Iraq.
Earlier, she was a member of the Democratic Party and advocated liberal reasons such as public health during the Congress service. In 2020, she ran for the nomination of the democratic president, and then left and supported Joe Biden.
Gabard left the Democratic Party in 2022, criticizing them in the fact that they were “warming”, managed “cowardly uncleanness”. It became independent before becoming a Republican in 2024 and supported the application for the presidential part of Trump.
If it is confirmed by the full Senate, it will manage the budget of more than $ 70 billion (55 billion pounds) and control 18 special services.
