'Sloppy': Tulsi Gabbard has own tweet used against her as she defends war plans leak
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fell back on the Trump administration's talking point that the Signal chat leaked to a journalist about a missile strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen did not contain classified information.
Gabbard testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee oversight hearing Tuesday, along with CIA director John Ratcliffe. Both were believed to have been part of the Signal chat detailed by The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg on Monday.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) pressed Gabbard, "So, then, if there are no classified materials, share it with the committee.
"You can't have it both ways. These are important jobs. This is our national security. Bobbing and weaving and trying to, you know, filibuster your answer — so, please answer the question. Director Gabbard, if this was a rank-and-file intelligence officer who did this kind of careless behavior, what would you do with them?"
Gabbard reiterated that there was no classified material shared in the Signal chat, that Goldberg classified as "imminent war plans" against the Houthis.
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A frustrated Warner shot back, "This is strangely familiar, and I think my colleagues will remember when you couldn't answer the question, 'Is Edward Snowden a traitor?' Ma'am, I have serious doubts about your — anyway —" Warner trailed off, then brought up one of her recent social media posts.
"Tweeted just 11 days ago, and I'm quoting you," Warner said. "'Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law, and will be treated as such.' So, if this information is classified, what are you going to do?"
Gabbard began, "Senator, two points here. First of all, there's a difference between inadvertent release versus ..." before Warner interjected, "careless and sloppy."
Gabbard continued, "Malicious leaks of classified information. The second point is, there was no classified information that was on ..."
"Then the Intelligence Committee should get that information," Warner butted in.