Sen. Chris Murphy Comments on Gabbard’s Exclusion from Briefing
On Thursday, Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut raised concerns about the exclusion of National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard from a recent briefing regarding U.S. airstrikes in Iran. He suggested that her differing views on Iran’s nuclear capabilities may have led to her removal.
“I wasn’t involved in the significant cabinet-level briefing where the Director of National Intelligence was asked to leave,” Murphy stated during an appearance on CNN’s “Source.”
“It seems likely that she didn’t conform entirely to what the administration wanted, particularly when they stated that the nuclear program no longer existed,” the senator told host Kaitlan Collins.
Murphy, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was present during a classified session with Senators Ratcliffe, Chairman Dan Kane, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Heggs.
Initially, there seemed to be tension between Trump and Gabbard during the conflict involving Israel and Iran. Gabbard had previously testified that the Iranian regime appeared not to have developed nuclear weapons. In response to her remarks, Trump claimed, “I don’t care what she said. I believe they were very close to having it.”
Following recent airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, assessments have varied on the extent of the damage caused.
The president and Israeli officials have emphasized that these attacks aimed to “destroy” significant facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, suggesting that Iran’s nuclear ambitions would face considerable setbacks. However, an initial U.S. intelligence report indicated that any damage would only modestly delay Tehran’s nuclear efforts.
The administration has actively disputed these findings, with Heggs addressing the media on Thursday. Both the FBI and the White House are currently investigating what they describe as “leaks” of sensitive information, aiming to work closely with Congress to manage classified disclosures.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team has taken action against major news outlets, claiming threats related to reporting on initial intelligence assessments.
Gabbard has voiced her skepticism regarding Trump’s narrative about the damage in Iran, agreeing that the sites have indeed been “devastated.”
Murphy also noted on CNN that the U.S. strikes might unintentionally complicate the administration’s objective of containing Iran’s nuclear program.
“While it’s true Israel has targeted various scientists, Iran still possesses the expertise to revive its nuclear capabilities,” he cautioned.
“This strike could very well encourage the current and future regimes in Tehran to expedite a nuclear weapons program,” he concluded.
