January 30, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an open cabinet confirmation hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) considering the nomination of former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned the candidate’s decision-making in the past. In the conversation with Gabbard, King questioned her about a House resolution she introduced in 2020 calling for all charges to be dropped against Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) intelligence contractor who was indicted on espionage charges before fleeing to Russia where he was granted asylum.
“You introduced a bill in 2020 that was essentially a pardon. It basically said all charges should be dropped. You had a lot of ‘whereas’s’ is in that bill, where did the factual basis for those whereas clauses come from,” asked Senator King.
“Senator if I recall, in that bill, came from publicly available information,” said Gabbard.
“I see. And were you aware that there was a bipartisan committee report from the House Intelligence Committee in 2016 on Snowden activities,” questioned Senator King.
“I don't recall specifically at that time, but I am aware of that committee's report and executive summary that was reported publicly. I did not have access to the classified report that that summary was based on,” replied Gabbard.
“Did you read that report prior to filing your bill in 2020,” asked Senator King.
“Senator, I don't recall specifically. I remember reading a lot of materials prior to filing that bill,” responded Gabbard.
“Well, the bipartisan committee report, the first item: ‘Edward Snowden perpetrated the largest and most damaging public release of classified information in U.S. intelligence history and goes on to say Snowden caused tremendous damage to national security, and the vast majority of the documents he stole have nothing to do with programs impacting individual privacy.’ But you don't recall ever seeing the work of that committee,” asked Senator King.
“I'm aware of those conclusions drawn,” said Gabbard.
“You are aware now; were you aware at the time,” questioned Senator King “You introduced a bill in Congress, along with Congressman Matt Gaetz, to essentially pardon him, so he broke the law, but it wasn't all that serious. Is that what you thought in 2020.”
“I take very seriously upholding our Constitution, and have sworn an oath to support and defend that Constitution over eight times in my life, my statements in the past have been reflective of the egregious and illegal programs that were exposed in that leak,” replied Gabbard.
“But you ignore the vast majority, as the committee found bipartisan. I think Devin Nunes was the chair. Adam Schiff was the Vice Chair. The conclusion was that the vast majority of these things that he released had nothing to do with Constitutional rights, the Fourth Amendment, but indeed were enormous compromises of our national security,” said Senator King.
A member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues. In addition to his committee work, Senator King serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and is co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission — which has had dozens of recommendations become law. He has introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a commission tasked with developing a comprehensive whole-of-government approach for how the United States should address the economic, security and diplomatic challenges posed by China.
Recently, Senator King published an Op-Ed and spoke with CNN regarding his positions on the advise and consent process of Cabinet-Level nominees.
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