Tulsi Gabbard Shows Why She’s The Right Person To Lead ODNI

During her Thursday Senate confirmation hearing, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard provided the definitive case on why she’s the best person to lead the Office of the Director National Intelligence (ODNI).

Speaking before the Intelligence Committee, the Army lieutenant colonel spoke of the importance of ending the political weaponization of U.S. intel agencies and restoring public trust in these institutions. She specifically noted prior remarks by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who in 2017 ominously warned then-President-elect Donald Trump, “[Y]ou take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.”

“For too long, faulty, inadequate, or weaponized intelligence have led to costly failures and the undermining of our national security and God-given freedoms enshrined in the Constitution,” Gabbard said.

The former Hawaii congresswoman went on to cite numerous examples in which intel agency employees undertook actions that undermined confidence in their ability to operate truthfully and transparently.

Among the most notable references were intel officials’ reliance “upon a total fabrication or complete failure of ‘intelligence’” to justify America’s invasion of Iraq, perpetuation of the Russia collusion hoax, and publication of a letter falsely claiming contents from Hunter Biden’s laptop were part of a Russian “misinformation” campaign. She also noted the FBI’s weaponization of spy tools to surveil a 2016 Trump campaign official and Catholics who attend Latin Mass, improper conduct by former DNI James Clapper and CIA Director John Brennan, and how she was placed on a domestic terror watch list.

“President Trump’s reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure, end the weaponization/politicization of the IC, and begin to restore trust in those who have been charged with the critical task of securing our nation,” Gabbard said. “If confirmed as DNI, I will do my very best to fulfill this mandate and bring leadership to the intelligence community with a laser like focus on our essential mission: ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.”

If ultimately confirmed by the Senate to lead ODNI, Gabbard committed to “delivering intelligence that is collected, analyzed, and reported without bias, prejudice, or political influence.” Citing her experience serving in the military and Congress, the Hawaii native said she knows “first-hand how essential accurate, unbiased, and timely intelligence is — to the President, to Congress, and to our warfighters — and the heavy cost of intelligence failures and abuses.”

“Ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people is a mandate of leadership that rises above partisan politics,” Gabbard said. “If confirmed, my commitment to the President, to you, and to the American people is this: I will do my very best to find the truth, no matter where it leads, and share the truth with President Trump, his advisors, and you in Congress, providing you with unbiased, timely, and accurate intelligence as you make decisions to ensure the safety, security and freedom of the American people.”

[READ: NYT Uses Anonymous Terrorist Sources For Latest Deep State Hit On Tulsi Gabbard]

Gabbard concluded her opening statement by hitting back at smears perpetuated by Democrats and their media allies opposed to her nomination. Since being as Trump’s DNI pick, leftists and so-called “journalists” have gone out of their way to dishonestly paint the Army veteran as a traitor who’s sympathetic to adversarial powers such as Russia and recently toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

“The fact is what truly unsettles my political opponents is I refuse to be their puppet,” Gabbard said. “If confirmed as director of National Intelligence, I will continue to live by the oath of [which] I have sworn at least eight times in my life: to support and defend our God-given freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

Gabbard is expected to undergo a second round of questioning from the committee behind closed doors to discuss additional national security matters.