Senate Democrats Accused of “Stonewalling”

The transition team of President-elect Donald Trump is alleging that Senate Democrats are “stonewalling” the confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). As Trump’s pick for this crucial national security position, Gabbard’s nomination is caught in political crossfire, with her hearing still pending.

Delay in the Hearing Process

Despite Republicans advocating for Gabbard’s nomination to be prioritized due to pressing national security matters, a hearing has not yet been scheduled. Axios first reported the potential delays in the confirmation process, raising alarms among supporters who see the urgency in addressing national intelligence capabilities.

Senate Committee Rules and Requirements

According to committee rules, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence cannot hold a hearing unless all necessary documentation is submitted at least one week in advance. The office of Intel Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) confirmed to Fox News Digital that the committee is currently waiting for pre-hearing questions from Gabbard, along with required ethics disclosures and an FBI background check.

Conflicting Accounts from the Transition Team

In response to these claims, a spokesperson for Gabbard and the Trump transition team contends that they submitted the necessary paperwork by the December 18 deadline, claiming the FBI background check is complete. They further argue that an additional round of paperwork is expected to be submitted by the stated deadline of Thursday.

The FBI has not yet responded to inquiries regarding whether Gabbard’s background check has reached the Intelligence Committee.

Security Clearance and Political Implications

The transition team has pointed out that Gabbard holds a top-secret security clearance from her prior military service, suggesting that her background check should have been expedited. Concerns have been raised as to why the nomination process appears to be stalling, particularly in the wake of New Year’s Eve attacks that some feel heighten the stakes for swiftly confirming national security nominees.

Controversial Directives and Meetings

The transition team alleges that Sen. Warner instructed Democratic members of the committee not to arrange meetings with Gabbard until he personally had done so, allegedly prolonging her confirmation process. Gabbard’s representatives assert that while they reached out to Warner’s office on November 27, they did not receive a response until December 29.

In contrast, Warner’s office has denied these claims, stating that he has encouraged Democrats to meet with Gabbard and evaluate her qualifications on an individual basis. Warner himself has expressed that he has numerous questions about Gabbard’s credentials and suitability for the role.

Gabbard’s Meeting with the Intelligence Committee

Recently, Warner met with Gabbard in person, stating afterward: “I had a session with Ms. Gabbard, I went in with a lot of questions. I’ve still got a lot of questions.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining the independence of the intelligence community and securing cooperation from allies for effective intelligence sharing.

Aiming for a Swift Confirmation

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the incoming chairman of the Intelligence Committee, expressed intentions to expedite the hearing process for Gabbard before Inauguration Day. A spokesperson indicated that the committee, alongside Gabbard’s team, is working diligently towards this end.

A source familiar with the proceedings informed Fox News Digital that the committee has not yet requested written responses from Gabbard concerning advance policy questions, thus emphasizing that Gabbard could not respond to inquiries not yet posed.