Gabbard rejects reports of weak Senate support for DNI vote
Tulsi Gabbard rejected reports that Senate support for her director of national intelligence position is lackluster as she returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday.
Reuters reported Tuesday that eight Republican senators are unsure about supporting her for the role, claiming she was unprepared during their recent meetings.
The report, which cited a Trump transition source and a second source with knowledge of the issue, said the senators were concerned about Gabbard's 2017 visit to Syria and meeting with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and "her lack of significant intelligence experience."
The Hill reported last week similar troubles between President-elect Donald Trump's DNI pick and senators citing "half dozen sources, including senators and individuals close to the situation."
Gabbard told ABC News' Mary Bruce while in her third straight day of meetings with leaders on the Hill that the reports were "meaningless."
"I don't make anything of reports with anonymous sources," she said.
Gabbard added that she was having "great meetings" with senators but dodged questions about her confidence in getting confirmed.
"There's a process, and I'm looking forward to continuing to meet with Senators as we go through this. There is still a ways to go," she said.
Gabbard has had numerous meetings with both Republican and Democratic senators over the last few weeks, and several have not publicly said whether they will approve Gabbard for the position.
Gabbard met with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan, Chuck Grassley, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul on Tuesday.
Collins described her meeting with Gabbard as "very broad and wide-ranging," but she did not say she would vote for her confirmation. Collins told reporters after her meeting she wanted to read the FBI background report and conduct the confirmation hearing.
"As the co-author of the 2004 law that created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, I have a very strong interest in this position," she told reporters Tuesday.
Gabbard wrapped up her meetings Wednesday and said she will return to speak with leaders in the new year.
