Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, finds herself at the center of a political storm as she continues to face accusations of Russian connections, despite a lack of concrete evidence.
At a Glance
- Gabbard’s alleged Russian ties stem from her 2016 endorsement of Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton
- Clinton’s comments sparked ongoing accusations against Gabbard, particularly during her nomination for an intelligence role under Trump
- Fellow Democrats perpetuated these allegations without presenting viable proof
- The Associated Press emphasized the lack of evidence supporting these claims
- Gabbard’s new book repeats discredited claims about Clinton, mixing memoir with pro-Trump rhetoric
The Origins of the Controversy
The political saga surrounding Tulsi Gabbard’s alleged Russian connections can be traced back to her endorsement of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary. This move apparently upset Hillary Clinton and other prominent Democrats, setting the stage for a series of accusations that would follow Gabbard throughout her political career.
The controversy reached a boiling point in 2019 when Clinton made comments suggesting that Gabbard was being groomed by Russia to be a third-party candidate. Although Clinton’s statements were later clarified to mean Republicans, not Russians, were eyeing Gabbard, the damage was already done.
Accusations Without Evidence
As Gabbard’s political profile rose, so did the intensity of the accusations against her. When she was nominated for the position of Director of National Intelligence under the Trump administration, fellow Democrats were quick to voice their concerns about her alleged ties to Russia.
“They are also going to do third-party again, and I’m not making any predictions but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate,” Hillary Clinton said.
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Elizabeth Warren were among those who expressed reservations about Gabbard’s supposed Russian connections. However, these accusations were consistently made without presenting any concrete evidence to support them.
Media Scrutiny and Fact-Checking
As the allegations against Gabbard continued to circulate, media outlets began to scrutinize these claims more closely. The Associated Press, a respected news organization, noted that the accusations of Gabbard being a “Russian asset” were “without evidence.” This statement underscored the speculative nature of the allegations and the lack of substantial proof to support them.
The Washington Post, in its fact-checking efforts, awarded Gabbard’s claims about Clinton’s accusations three Pinocchios, indicating significant factual errors. “The initial news reports got it wrong, perhaps fueled by the ‘nesting doll’ comment, with many saying Clinton said the Russians were grooming Gabbard for a third-party bid,” The Washington Post reported.
Gabbard’s Response and Political Shift
In response to these allegations, Gabbard has been vocal in her defense. She filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Clinton, which was later dropped. More recently, Gabbard has published a book titled “For Love of Country: Why I Left the Democratic Party,” in which she repeats her claims about Clinton’s accusations.
Gabbard’s political journey has taken several turns since the controversy began. She left the Democratic Party, became an independent, and later joined the Republicans after endorsing Donald Trump. This shift has led to speculation about her potential role as a running mate for Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
