Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) expressed her belief that former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, selected by President-elect Trump for the position of national intelligence director, could be a “Russian asset.”
Wasserman Schultz made her remarks on MSNBC on Friday, stating, “There’s no question I consider her someone who is likely a Russian asset.” Gabbard’s press team has been contacted by The Hill for a response to the claim.
Wasserman Schultz calls out Gabbard for her controversial views, raising suspicions of Russian influence
These comments come as Trump faces criticism over his cabinet appointments, including his nomination of Gabbard to lead national intelligence. The position marks a departure for Gabbard, a former Democrat who has faced accusations of promoting Russian-backed narratives. She has often contradicted U.S. intelligence reports, especially on matters concerning Russia and Ukraine.
Gabbard has previously suggested that the U.S. played a role in Ukraine’s development of biological weapons, prompting Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) to accuse her of “parroting Russian propaganda” and warned that her statements could have deadly consequences.
In 2022, she criticized the Biden administration for failing to address Russia’s security concerns despite its invasion of Ukraine, claiming that the war could have been avoided if NATO had recognized Russia’s fears about Ukraine’s potential membership. Hillary Clinton also weighed in on Gabbard’s ties with Russian media, describing her as a “favorite of the Russians” during a 2019 interview.
Gabbard’s controversial meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017, during which Assad was accused of using chemical weapons on his citizens, provoked outrage from many of her congressional colleagues. While running for president in 2020, Gabbard downplayed Assad’s actions, stating he was not an enemy of the U.S. and refrained from labeling him a war criminal.
