Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced on Monday that she will support Tulsi Gabbard to become director of national intelligence (DNI), giving her a key boost in her confirmation push.
Collins was considered a crucial swing vote on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is set to meet on Tuesday afternoon to potentially advance Gabbard toward a floor vote. Last month, Collins had expressed reservations about Gabbard.
But in a statement on Monday, she pointed to Gabbard’s support for reducing the size and scale of the DNI position and said the former Democratic congresswoman had assuaged her concerns about her stance on Edward Snowden.
“After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence,” Collins said. “The Office of the Director of National Intelligence … has become far larger than it was designed to be, and Ms. Gabbard shares my vision of returning the agency to its intended size.”
“In response to my questions during our discussion in my office and at the open hearing, as well as through her explanation at the closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden,” Collins said. “I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to strengthen our national security.”
With Collins in the “aye” column, all attention shifts to Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who has been considered the other GOP swing vote on the panel.
Young pressed Gabbard during her confirmation hearing about whether she thought Snowden, the former NSA contractor-turned-leaker, is a traitor — and was visibly frustrated with Gabbard’s answers.
Trump ally Elon Musk attacked Young in a post on X over weekend as a “deep state puppet.” He deleted the post following a conversation with the Indiana Republican and spoke glowingly about him.
