Gabbard Path Through Intel Committee Narrows
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s hopes of becoming a credible player in the 2020 presidential election appear to be waning. In a dramatic twist, her party’s leaders in the House of Representatives have pulled her from a key role in the Intel Committee, dealing a significant blow to her national stature.
The news comes just a week after a bombshell Politico report accused Gabbard of secretly meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian backers. The scandal has led to widespread condemnation and calls for her to drop out of the race.
Despite a defiant statement denouncing the criticism as “witch hunt” politics, the backlash has been too great. Sources close to the Democratic leadership confirmed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had removed Gabbard from the Intel Committee, effectively neutering her role in the impeachment inquiry.
Gabbard’s allies had been hoping to ride the controversy out, banking on her passionate grassroots support and willingness to take risks to energize her campaign. However, with her removal from the Intel Committee, she risks being marginalized as a serious candidate.
In the wake of this development, other Democratic hopefuls are pouncing on the scandal, calling for Gabbard to withdraw from the race and accusing her of being too close to autocratic regimes.
With her credibility cratering and her party leaders deserting her, Gabbard’s presidential bid appears to be on life support. Unless she can stage a dramatic turnaround, her 2020 ambitions are likely to come to an end.
