‘Sad To See’: Trump Team Says Dems ‘Playing Politics’ With Key National Security Admin Post

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team says Senate Democrats are “playing politics” to Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination process to be the next director of national intelligence.

Gabbard’s nomination hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee was on track to take place next week, a goal of committee chairman, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas. Democrats on the committee, led by Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, have refused to schedule a hearing on Gabbard’s nomination, citing insufficient vetting materials.

The Trump transition said the delay, especially less than a week after an ISIS terrorist attack on U.S. soil, is “sad to see.”

“After the terrorist attacks on New Year’s Eve and New Years Day, it’s sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans’ safety and our national security by stonewalling Lt. Col. Gabbard’s nomination, who is willing to meet with every member who will meet with her as this process continues,” Trump transition spokeswoman Alexa Henning told The Daily Wire.

Until Tuesday, Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia was the only Democrat on the committee to have met with Gabbard since her nomination. A source close to Gabbard told The Daily Wire that Gabbard’s team first contacted Warner’s office on November 27. Warner’s office did not reply for over a month, and finally met with Gabbard on Tuesday.

“It is vital the senate confirms President Elect Trump’s national security nominees swiftly, which in the past has been a bipartisan effort, we are working in lockstep with Chairmen Cotton and look forward to Lt. Col. Gabbard’s hearing before Inauguration Day,” she added.

GOP leaders have stressed the need to put in place Trump’s national security team soon after a terror attack killed 14 people in New Orleans on January 1.

“With reports of ISIS inspiration, the American people expect clear answers from the administration. The threat posed by ISIS will outlast this administration, and this is a clear example of why the Senate must get President Trump’s national security team in place as quickly as possible,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said at the time.

Warner has denied that Democrats are seeking to delay Gabbard’s hearing – the nominee is still missing some vetting materials, he says. Gabbard is expected to submit a second pre-hearing questionnaire by Thursday, and she completed her FBI background check process last week, according to Axios. Gabbard’s active security clearance should expedite her background check.

Warner said after his meeting with Gabbard on Tuesday that the committee cannot schedule a hearing until it receives all the vetting materials, per committee rules.

“There’s no delay,” Warner said, according to The Hill. “We do it by the book. Wait for an FBI background check, we ask her questions.”

According to Intelligence Committee rules: “No confirmation hearing shall be held sooner than seven calendar days after receipt of the background questionnaire, financial disclosure statement, and responses to additional pre-hearing questions, if transmitted, unless the time limit is waived by a majority vote of the Committee.”

Warner added that the committee has received all the vetting materials on John Ratcliffe, Trump’s pick to lead the CIA, and is in the process of scheduling his hearing.