Trump’s choice for spy director modifies her stance on the domestic monitoring power that she previously aimed to eliminate.
Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence chief appointed by President-elect Donald Trump, is endorsing a major government monitoring agency that she once aimed to abolish.
Even though Gabbard has spent the last several weeks talking with senators from both parties in an attempt to gain their support, there is still some doubt about his chances of being confirmed.
In contrast to her prior attempts to repeal the same authority and remarks expressing serious concerns about domestic surveillance, Gabbard said in a new statement to CNN on Friday that she would support FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Section 702, an intelligence gathering tool passed by Congress after September 11, 2001, if confirmed as Trump’s spy chief.
Unlike other FISA authorities, Section 702 is essential for obtaining foreign intelligence on foreign nationals. In the statement to CNN, Gabbard stated, “This special capability cannot be duplicated and must be protected to protect our nation while ensuring the civil liberties of Americans.”
“My earlier worries about FISA stemmed from the lack of adequate civil rights protections, especially in light of the FBI’s abuse of its warrantless search authority against people of the United States. Since I served in Congress, significant FISA changes have been implemented to address these problems. In order to protect the safety and freedom of the American people, I will preserve essential national security tools like Section 702 while upholding Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights if I am confirmed as DNI,” she continued.
A person familiar with the situation said Gabbard also met with Avril Haines, the current director of national intelligence, on Friday, though he would not elaborate on the topics of the meeting.
Trump’s conviction last year on 34 counts of business fraud pertaining to the payment of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign led to his sentence of unconditional release, which coincides with the meeting.
In reference to FISA Section 702, Gabbard’s comment was initially reported by Punchbowl.
