REPORT: RINO Senators Plan To Oppose Another Trump Cabinet Nominee
At least eight Republican senators are “unsure” about supporting former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to become the new Director of National Intelligence, a source familiar with the Trump transition team told JP.
A second source who who was been working closely with senators in order to get Trump’s cabinet nominees through confirmation hearings confirmed the report, telling the outlet that there is growing pessimism about whether Gabbard could secure the necessary votes.
Republicans will control 53 seats when the new Congress is sworn in next month, meaning they could only afford three defections if all Democrats vote against Gabbard’s nomination.
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Gabbard (second from the left) attends a UFC event with top Trump allies last month
Sources told JP that at least eight Republican senators are having doubts, claiming that she was “unprepared” to answer tough questions during initial meetings with lawmakers last week. Holdout senators have also taken issue with her 2017 trip to Syria and her “lack of significant intelligence experience,” the sources said.
In a statement addressing the report,Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning noted that no Republican senator has publicly said they would vote against Gabbard. “There is not one GOP Senator on the record that opposes Lt. Col. Gabbard’s nomination,” Henning said. “Again, this is anonymous sources desperately trying to hold on to power, so they hide behind the media to spread these falsities that directly subvert the will of the American people.”
The eight alleged holdout senators were not identified, though a number of Senate Republicans, including Joni Ernst (IA) and Lindsey Graham (SC) recently urged the president-elect to withdraw his nomination of Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense. Four Republican senators — McConnell (KY), Collins (ME), Murkowski (AK) and incoming Senator John Curtis (UT) — allegedly opposed Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general, according to several congressional sources.
A separate source, who also spoke with JP on the condition of anonymity, was more optimistic about Gabbard’s prospects. They did note that the senators who planned to torpedo Gaetz’s nomination could vote to oppose, however.
Aides for McConnell, Collins and Murkowski did not comment when asked about the report, while a spokesperson for Curtis’ office told JP that the incoming senator has yet to publicly support or oppose any nominee and will be making his decision after confirmation hearings.
Another congressional aide was also optimistic about Gabbard’s chances, stating that the mood on Capitol Hill has shifted in recent days after the former Democrat appeared to be facing significant opposition.
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) has also expressed openness to confirming Gabbard, giving Trump a potential cushion if Republicans do indeed oppose his nominee.
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