Republicans defend Trump’s intelligence pick Gabbard against Democratic accusations of compromise

Republican senators are defending Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's pick for U.S. intelligence chief, against Democratic claims that she is "compromised" due to her past comments on Russia and a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Democrats, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, have expressed concerns about Gabbard's ties to U.S. adversaries, suggesting she may not pass a background check. In response, Republicans argue that such accusations are unfounded and politically motivated, especially since Gabbard recently switched to the Republican Party. Sen. Eric Schmitt called the claims that Gabbard is a Russian asset "ridiculous," while Sen. James Lankford acknowledged he has questions about her past actions. The Senate is set to consider her nomination, with discussions expected on her previous comments and meetings.