Nearly 100 former national security officials signed a letter criticizing President-elect Donald Trump's decision to nominate former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and called for closed-door Senate hearings to review any government information about her.
In the letter obtained by NBC News, the officials urged the Senate to "carefully evaluate" whether Gabbard is "equipped" for the position, which requires Senate confirmation.
"Following her trip to Syria, for example, Ms. Gabbard aligned herself with Russian and Syrian officials."
The former officials also proposed closed-door hearings that would allow lawmakers to fully review any government files on Gabbard, a former Democratic House member from Hawaii.
Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Gabbard on the Trump transition team slammed the letter, as well as the signers' credentials.
Persons:
Donald Trump's, Tulsi Gabbard, Gabbard, Wendy Sherman, Biden, Ian Kelly, Trump, Eric Green, Bashar al, Assad, Chuck Schumer, John Thune, Alexa Henning, Henning, Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Matt Gaetz
Organizations:
NBC News, Senate, Democratic House, Obama, National Security Council, U.S, National Intelligence Program, Republicans, Gabbard, Trump, intel, Defense Department, Department of Health, Human Services
Locations:
Syria, Hawaii, “, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Iraq