Senators allied with President Donald Trump are pushing to make the Senate Intelligence Committee's vote on former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's, D-Hawaii, nomination public to ensure her confirmation, Politico reported.
Typically, the votes are held private, but Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is being urged to change precedent, two sources told Politico. Trump nominated Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence.
Gabbard is set to meet with the committee in open and closed sessions on Thursday. Gabbard has been a tough sell for some Republicans and her supporters believe forcing committee members to vote in public could lead to them voting in her favor, Politico said.
Republicans hold a 9-8 edge on the committee, so all Republicans must vote to advance her nomination, assuming Democrats stand united in opposition.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said to The Hill she had "obvious issues" with how Gabbard has shifted her stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for the warrantless surveillance of foreign targets. Gabbard had previously opposed it while in Congress.
A person familiar with Intelligence Committee procedure told Politico that while panel rules allow for the release of a vote tally, they do not allow for a public roll call of how each member voted.
Opening the committee vote would require the secretive committee to waive its rules, and it is unclear whether Cotton has that power, Politico reported.