Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in his administration, has retracted the controversial story after lobbying members of the Republican establishment.
Gabbard revealed on Friday that he believes section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is “essential to the collection of foreign intelligence on non-US persons abroad.”
He previously opposed the reauthorization of section 702 of FISA while serving as a Democrat in the House of Representatives.
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Gabbard announced a change in his position on section 702 of the FISA. (Getty Images)
“We have a very important responsibility to balance national security to keep the American people safe, while also protecting our constitutionally protected liberties,” he said on the floor of the House in 2018. “Let’s make this important choice. Vote to keep”
In his statement, provided by a spokesman for Trump’s reforms, Gabbard said, “This unique capability cannot be duplicated and must be protected to protect our country while ensuring the freedom of the American people.”
“My previous concerns about FISA were based on inadequate protections for civil liberties, particularly regarding the FBI’s abuse of warrantless search powers against American citizens. Important changes to FISA have been made since my time in Congress to address these issues. If confirmed as a DNI, I. will uphold the Fourth Amendment rights of Americans while maintaining important national security tools like Section 702 to ensure the safety and liberties of Americans,” he said.
Gabbard’s change in beliefs on a key national security issue was first reported by Punchbowl News.
It comes after several Republican Senators have questioned the importance of section 702 of the FISA.
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Trump said Gabbard was the director of national intelligence. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told Fox News Digital in a statement: “Tulsi Gabbard has assured me in our discussions that she supports Section 702 as recently amended and that she will follow the law.” law and support its approval as a DNI.”
Another GOP aide shared that during his meeting with Gabbard, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., emphasized how important the authority granted by section 702 is, and how important its navigation is.
In a podcast appearance earlier this week, Lankford told the Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel that there are some issues “people aren’t talking about” as they relate to Trump’s candidacy. One of them, he said, is Gabbard and his stance on section 702.
“He voted against the so-called 702 authority every time he was in Congress and voted against it. Now, he’s going to be the spokesperson for the 702 authority. The only legitimate question is, ‘Okay, what are you going to do. How do you handle this?'” he asked.
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Cotton is chairman of the intelligence committee. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Lankford suggested that this is a priority for some Republican members. “I don’t really hear anyone coming out and saying, ‘I’m very against'” Trump nominees, he explained.
But, “What I hear a lot of people say is, ‘Hey, I want to hear well. I want people to be able to answer questions in public.’
While most GOP senators supported FISA, some were more critical. “Voting to reauthorize FISA 702 without a warrant requirement is hard to defend. So are those who cast such votes—especially if they want to care about the Fourth Amendment,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote in X earlier. recent FISA reauthorization.
Another big critic, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said in 2023, “Using 702, the content of Americans’ communications and metadata is essentially being swept up and stored in government databases without a consent. warrant.”
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Paul opposed section 702 for what he said was a violation of civil liberties. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
These Republicans may not be so happy about Gabbard’s change of heart. However, there is no indication that it will hurt their support so far.
One Republican Senate source was skeptical of Gabbard’s new decision, noting that he has been “a lifelong stranger to intelligence gathering.” They suggested that he was unlikely to “completely change his mind.”
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A GOP Senate source confirmed to Fox News Digital that members of the Senate Majority were encouraged by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., and his apparent desire to confirm Trump’s nominees on the day he was sworn into office.
The group is eager to have all national security nominees confirmed on Trump’s first day, they added.