Hakeem Jeffries Defends Tulsi Gabbard Against Russian Asset Allegations

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) expressed reservations on Sunday about members of his party labeling former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) as a “Russian asset.” Speaking on NBC’s Meet The Press with Kristen Welker, Jeffries took a measured stance on the inflammatory claims made by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) just days earlier.

Wasserman Schultz had referred to Gabbard as “by most assessments, a Russian asset” after President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gabbard, now a Republican, to serve as director of national intelligence. Gabbard’s nomination has drawn widespread attention, given her history of controversial foreign policy positions and criticism of Democratic leadership.

Jeffries emphasized the importance of evaluating nominees based on their qualifications rather than resorting to incendiary rhetoric. While avoiding direct criticism of Wasserman Schultz, he distanced himself from her comments:

“No, that’s not how I would characterize her at this particular juncture,” Jeffries responded when pressed on whether he agreed with the “Russian asset” label. He added, “I’m open to scrutinizing whatever information is presented to all of us. But this is going to fall on Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans.”

Jeffries questioned whether Gabbard and others nominated by Trump represent the best America has to offer, pointing to the incoming administration’s promises to deliver “the best economy, the best border security, and the best administration possible.”

Tulsi Gabbard has long been a divisive figure within the Democratic Party. In 2019, Hillary Clinton suggested that Gabbard was being “groomed” as a third-party candidate by Russian interests a claim Gabbard vehemently denied, filing a defamation lawsuit against Clinton.

Her foreign policy stances, including a willingness to engage with authoritarian regimes and criticism of U.S. interventions abroad, have drawn praise from some Republicans but alienated her from Democratic leadership.

Now a Republican, Gabbard’s nomination to lead U.S. intelligence has reignited these controversies, with Democrats raising concerns over her qualifications and judgment for the role.

Jeffries urged Senate Republicans to carefully examine Trump’s picks while holding them to a high standard of accountability. “Hopefully, we’ll see the Senate Republicans do their job, scrutinize these picks, certainly confirm those that meet the basic level of qualifications, and reject others,” he said.

Jeffries’ refusal to fully endorse the “Russian asset” narrative reflects a strategic distancing from the more extreme rhetoric within his party. His approach highlights a broader challenge for Democrats as they navigate internal divisions and respond to Trump’s high-profile appointments.

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