Tulsi Gabbard Secures Committee Vote, Advances To Senate Floor

The Senate Intelligence Committee voted in favor of advancing Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tuesday.

The vote was expected to be along party lines, with nine Republicans supporting and eight Democrats opposing her nomination. The committee voted on her nomination in a “closed session,” a committee aide told CBS News.

She will now head to the floor for a Senate-wide vote, where can only afford to lose three Republicans.

Gabbard’s confirmation hearing was Friday, and she was questioned by senators about her views on foreign policy, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Act and National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden. (RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard Secures Shock Endorsement From Susan Collins, Drastically Increasing Chance Of Confirmation)

While in Congress, Gabbard introduced legislation to limit government surveillance, including FISA. She has also expressed support for pardoning Snowden, which proved contentious during the hearing.

During the hearing, Gabbard attacked the weaponization of the intelligence community and refused the demands of some senators to call Snowden a traitor.

However, Republican senators concerned about Gabbard’s views confirmed they would support her in the hours leading up to the vote.

Indiana Sen. Todd Young stated Tuesday morning he would support Gabbard’s nomination. He tweeted a letter Gabbard sent him outlining specific commitments she made to the committee.

Gabbard committed to not recommending a pardon for Snowden, and she agreed to collaborate with the committee on reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA.

“As I said to Senator Collins during the hearing, I commit to not making any recommendation in a personal or professional capacity regarding the legal standing of Edward Snowden to the President of the United States or the Attorney General of the United States,” Gabbard wrote.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins announced yesterday she would vote to confirm Gabbard, citing their shared agreement on reducing bureaucracy in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

She also said Gabbard sufficiently addressed her concerns regarding Snowden. (RELATED: ‘I Refused To Be Their Puppet’: Tulsi Slams Government Weaponization, Responds To Criticism At Hearing)

“In response to my questions during our discussion in my office and at the open hearing, as well as through her explanation at the closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden,” Collins said.

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford previously stated he would vote for Gabbard, but seemed to waver on his support during the hearing. He recommitted to voting for her yesterday, CNN reported.

Some Republican senators who are not on the committee were also considered potential swing votes, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. He said on Sunday, however, that he would vote in favor of Gabbard’s nomination.

“She demonstrated that she understands the importance of tools we need to protect our national security,” Graham wrote online Sunday. (RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard Was Victimized By The Intel Community — Now She’s Trying To Oversee It)

Two other Republicans have not explicitly said they will vote for Gabbard  — Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Both voted against Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, and they also voted to confirm Biden’s DNI, Avril Haines.

Murkowski had a meeting with Gabbard in December, but it is unclear if she will vote in favor of her nomination.