Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed in the full Senate 52-48, a party-line vote with only Mitch McConnell voting no from the Republicans. “The nation should not have to worry that the intelligence assessments the President receives are tainted by a Director of National Intelligence with a history of alarming lapses in judgment,” McConnell said to try to justify his vote for defending what some call the “Deep State.” However, key swing Republican Senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana, ultimately decided to back her confirmation.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer railed that “This endangers our security”—an interesting reflection by the person who warned Trump that the intelligence community has “six ways from Sunday” to go after you, if you cross them. He also said that if it were a secret vote Gabbard “might” get 10 yes votes.
