Tulsi Gabbard Faces Scrutiny Over Secret 2017 Meetings With Bashar al-Assad

Newly revealed records detail the former congresswoman's unreported meetings with the ex-Syrian dictator, raising concerns ahead of her confirmation as Director of National Intelligence.

• Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by Donald Trump for Director of National Intelligence, met Bashar al-Assad twice during a 2017 trip to Syria, with one meeting reportedly lasting around three hours.
• Gabbard's meetings with Assad were not disclosed in her pre-approved itinerary submitted to the House Ethics Committee, and her staff was largely unaware of the plans at the time.
• Internal communications reveal Gabbard's team worked to downplay the meetings in post-trip filings, including altering timelines and descriptions of her activities in Syria.
• The trip, funded by a pro-Assad group before Gabbard reimbursed costs, also included meetings with sanctioned Syrian officials and controversial figures, raising further ethical questions.
• The revelations have intensified bipartisan concerns about Gabbard's suitability for the role, with critics questioning her judgment and potential biases in handling sensitive intelligence matters.

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