The Senate Intelligence Committee has announced that a confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the intelligence community, is scheduled for Thursday, January 30. Gabbard's nomination has sparked controversy due to her anti-surveillance views, a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017, and statements that some lawmakers believe align with Russia's perspective on the conflict in Ukraine.
Gabbard, a member of Congress, has been vocal in her opposition to government surveillance practices, raising concerns among some officials about her ability to lead the intelligence community effectively. Her meeting with Assad, which took place in 2017, has also drawn criticism from those who view the Syrian leader as a human rights violator.
