Statement from Rep. Magaziner, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence on President-Elect Trump’s Intended Nominations

Statement from Rep. Magaziner, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence on President-Elect Trump’s Intention to Nominate Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and Matt Gaetz for Attorney General:

“I am deeply concerned that President-elect Donald Trump is making our country vulnerable to attack by nominating unqualified and potentially dangerous individuals to critical national security positions. 

“Tulsi Gabbard’s deep ties to some of our nation’s most dangerous adversaries, including Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Vladimir Putin of Russia, make her an untrustworthy guardian of our nation’s most closely held secrets. As the highest-ranking intelligence official in the federal government, she would have access to information spanning everything from our nation’s nuclear weapons program to the location and activities of our military service members, and we cannot risk this information falling into the hands of our adversaries.

“Matt Gaetz, the subject of an ongoing ethics investigation regarding alleged illegal activity, has openly called for the abolition of law enforcement agencies including the FBI, which is our nation’s leading counterterrorism agency.

“These appointments will have dangerous and lasting ramifications, and I urge President-elect Trump to reconsider these nominations and appoint other individuals to these critical national security roles.”