'Holy crap': Ex-GOP insider translates what Republican Senators are thinking about Gabbard

A former Republican lawmaker who has been thought by some to be a target of Donald Trump spoke out on Saturday against one of the President-elect's Cabinet nominees.

Former "Tea Party" Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman (VA), a Trump-skeptical Republican who helped assist the House Select Committee on January 6 with its investigation, has previously sounded the alarm about purportedly dangerous Republicans rising to power.

He also told Trump, "Bring it," when it comes to the potential for retribution.

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The host asked Riggleman about Republican lawmakers who have "reservations" when it comes to confirming Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to head the nation's intelligence operations.

Host Alex Witt said, "In meetings, the former congressman reportedly couldn't clearly articulate the director's role and was confused about a key national security surveillance power." She then asked if Republicans would defy pressure from Trump.

This prompted Riggleman to let loose, translating the "reservations" line from his perspective as a former lawmaker.

"Well, they should defy pressure from Trump, because I'm telling you right now that Tulsi Gabbard is completely unfit to be in any position in United States government at that level. And I think the word reservations actually equals holy crap. I mean, that's actually what people are thinking about when you look at her past meeting with Assad, when she didn't even really know what FISA did," he said. "I mean, this is somebody who's wholly unqualified. And you look at her past, you know, I know it pretty well. I think it's somebody who shouldn't even be there. I think actually, her name should be withdrawn."

He then added, "As far as Republican senators, they're going to do what Trump tells them to do. I think it's just a lack of courage and conviction on what's right for the American people, because in her, in any position, looking at intelligence data should frighten any real professional, any real American, any real civil servant, any real elected member of congress should look at Tulsi Gabbard and say she's just totally and wholly unfit and unable to actually withstand the intellectual pressures of the job. So that's that's where I think we're at with Tulsi Gabbard."

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