With former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) out of the running as head of the Justice Department, Republican senators are shifting their attention to another one of Donald Trump’s controversial nominees.
While former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has made some eyebrow-raising comments – including her calls for the U.S. government to “drop all charges” against Edward Snowden – and taken other curious foreign policy views, Trump still selected her as director of national intelligence in his new administration.
But that hasn’t stopped some Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee from calling for Gabbard’s full FBI file, according to a new report in Punchbowl News.
“Trump’s choice of Gabbard is in keeping with his desire to completely overhaul the federal bureaucracy,” Punchbowl reported. “But GOP senators are already indicating they’ll be interested in probing Gabbard’s controversial and often outright hostile posture toward the very intelligence apparatus she’d run if confirmed.”
ALSO READ: A giant middle finger from a tiny craven man
While FBI probes into cabinet picks are standard practices, suggestions have been raised that Gabbard’s file could reveal new information about the former lawmaker who appears to have a cozy relationship with Russia, including possible foreign contacts, according to the report.
“I start out saying, OK, this is an individual the president wants on his team,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) told Punchbowl. “But now let’s talk about information that maybe the president didn’t have, or information that comes up, and at that stage do we advise the president to look elsewhere or do we offer our consent?”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who like Rounds, sits on the Intelligence Committee, told Punchbowl that he “has no doubt that she’s a patriot,” but added that he would still like to question Gabbard on her views toward Russia.
And Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) called Gabbard “a nominee that illustrates the importance of a full background check, a public hearing, and the constitutional role of the Senate.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said Friday afternoon during an appearance on Fox News that while Gabbard is one of three nominees that will be a challenge to win Senate confirmation, he was confident she would get there.
“She’s got a little bit of work to do but I’m going to help her get where she needs to get,” Mullins said, adding that former Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also face tough roads in their confirmation processes.
“Those three are going to be a challenge but we’re going to deliver that to Donald Trump and do it hopefully in a fast order,” he said.
