The American Senate validated the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as a national intelligence director on Wednesday, while many Democrats opposed it in particular because of its positions close to the Kremlin.
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The ex-43-year-old democratic elected representative obtained 52 votes for and 48 against his appointment to this strategic position which advises the American president on national security issues. His appointment was one of the most disputed among those announced by Donald Trump since his presidential victory.
Ultimately, the republican senator Mitch McConnell, former head of the majority in the upper chamber, was the only one in the presidential camp to oppose Tulsi Gabbard.
This former lieutenant-colonelle had notably been criticized for echoing the arguments of the Kremlin to justify the war in Ukraine, but also his doubts expressed on the conclusions of the American intelligence according to which the now ex-president Syrian Bashar al-Assad, allied Russia had used chemical weapons against his people.
In 2017, then elected to the House of Representatives, she went so far as to meet the leader in Syria, a trip widely criticized by both political edges at the time and since then.
During the confirmation hearing before the Intelligence Committee, the senators also questioned her on his support for the whistleblower Edward Snowden, which is the source of damaging revelations for the American intelligence services.
Services that she will therefore be responsible for directing as director of national intelligence.
During the hearing, Democratic Senator Mark Warner was worried that the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard could affect “confidence” between the United States and their allies and thus limit the sharing of sensitive information.
“It seems to me that you have repeatedly justified the worst acts of our opponents and that you often have, instead, held responsible for the United States and their allies,” he said.
His belonging to a religious movement based in Hawaii, described as sect by certain observers, also arouses many questions.
Apart from Matt Gaetz’s forced withdrawal to justice, Donald Trump continues an almost full card in his appointments in government and certain key positions. And this despite the sometimes stormy debates for some, thus confirming its always prevalent influence on the Republican elected officials at the Congress.
