Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) says he’s unsure about the fate of former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence, casting doubt on her ability to garner enough support for confirmation.
“I think some of them are still really, really uncomfortable with her running 18 intelligence agencies,” Kelly said of his colleagues during an appearance Thursday evening on MSNBC’s “The Reid Out.”
“So, I don’t think her confirmation to this job is certain,” he added.
Earlier in the interview, the Arizona Democrat pointed out that even after Thursday’s confirmation hearing, many senators still have concerns about past controversial remarks Gabbard has made on foreign affairs issues.
“I think there’s a lot of questions still that my Republican colleagues have,” he told host Joy Reid. “I think some of them have been answered, and probably in a way that she was hoping would have gone the other way.”
Many of his observations were echoed by from both Republicans and Democrats alike. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said Gabbard’s comments on Russian informant Edward Snowden were “notable,” while flagging that she didn’t acknowledge how the former National Security Agency contractor hurt national intelligence by leaking sensitive information in 2013.
“When we find Americans, whether private citizens or contractors or uniformed personnel, have shared sensitive designs about military technology or plans to a foreign government … we rightfully throw the book at them. Snowden did just that. Yet you have argued many times that he should be pardoned,” Young said, visibly disheartened by Gabbard’s answer.
However, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) offered the former lawmaker support.
“I was happy with her responses to my questions, including the question of whether she would recommend a pardon of Edward Snowden, where she clearly said no,” she told reporters after the hearing.
Still, Collins said she remains undecided on whether to vote for or against Gabbard.
