By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.Related ArticlesOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info BBC radio personality John Spencer-Barnes raised eyebrows among his concerned fans after announcing he was going in for surgery, marking his second hospital visit in just a few months. The 63 year old revealed that he had been admitted to the hospital for an operation, just months after he was admitted to hospital with symptoms resembling a stroke. BBC Radio 5 Live host John shared the worrying news with his followers, who flooded him with supportive messages. Posting on X, he informed his fans of the news. "I had nothing better to do today so I decided to check into Burnley General Hospital for an operation," he wrote, alongside a picture from his hospital bed. He added: "I'll see you on the other side." While he hasn't yet disclosed what the procedure entailed, fans sent their well wishes for his recovery. One social media user offered: "If you want some grapes and a bottle of wine sneaked in I'm only 15 minutes away from Burnley. Hope all goes well." Another chimed in: "Thinking of you," while another added: "Wishing you a speedy recovery x," reports the Mirror . John later updated his supporters, letting them know his operation was complete and he was recuperating, sharing gratitude towards his medical team. He added: "Thank you to Burnley General Hospital for their amazing care over the last 24 hours even though they sent me to Whamageddon in recovery." In July, John shared another health update with his fans, revealing that he had previously suffered two strokes back in 2015. He posted: "I've been released from hospital following the manifestation of some stroke related symptoms. After having two strokes in 2015 it's something that I'm anxious to avoid again. The examination suggested there's no immediate concerns and I'm being referred for more tests this week." John was born in Dudley, West Midlands in 1961, and later moved to Wolverhampton for university. He began his career as a freelancer at BRMB in Birmingham, before joining the Beeb's WM Heartlands from 1989 to 1991. John then worked at Chiltern Radio Network before becoming the launch manager of Welsh station Radio Maldwyn. In 1994, he secured a News Editor role at Rock FM in Preston, Lancashire, where he coordinated the EMAP Radio response to the IRA bombing in Manchester. His emergency news service replaced Manchester's Key 103 and Piccadilly Magic off air. More recently, he has worked at various BBC regional stations, but decided to become a freelancer after lockdown made him "rethink" his priorities. He told RadioToday in 2021: "The BBC wanted me to stay but it was the right time for me to move on to the next stage. Right now, I'm renovating our 300 year old house with my husband Dave and will be taking on more work when that's done but right now I want to get back to doing a little bit of radio as it's always been in my blood. "After working from home for the last year I've grown a rather fashionable lockdown beard which hopefully shouldn't prove to be too much of an issue on the radio!"10% Yield: Is BCE Stock a Good Buy?
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Watch Bezos’ new super rocket blast its engines. It's about to launch.Kelly Loeffler, a former US Senator from Georgia and prominent business executive, has garnered significant attention for her wealth, political career, and involvement in a high-profile insider trading scandal. Here's an in-depth look at her age, net worth, family, and controversies. Born in Bloomington, Illinois, on November 27, 1970, Kelly Loeffler is 54 years old. She graduated with a degree in marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992 and later earned an MBA from DePaul University. Her early career saw her work with several financial firms, eventually leading to her rise in the corporate world. Loeffler's net worth is estimated to be approximately $1 billion , making her one of the wealthiest individuals in American politics. Her substantial fortune stems from her association with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), a financial services company founded by her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher. She joined ICE in 2002, rising to become head of marketing and communications. Loeffler received a reported $9 million payout upon leaving the company to join the US Senate, according to reports from Celebrity Net Worth . Loeffler and Sprecher reside in a 15,000-square-foot Atlanta mansion worth $10.5 million, the most expensive residential purchase in the city's history at the time. The couple also owns properties in Florida, Chicago, and Georgia. READ MORE: Quick Facts About Matt Gaetz: Is He A Lawyer, Net Worth, Wife, And Scandal With A Minor Kelly Loeffler married Jeffrey Sprecher in 2004. Sprecher, a businessman and billionaire, is the CEO of ICE, which owns the New York Stock Exchange. The couple has been a powerful force in the financial and political spheres, with Sprecher's role often complementing Loeffler's political ambitions. According to Times Now News , the duo met while Loeffler was working at ICE, and their partnership has been central to their financial and professional success. Loeffler was appointed to the US Senate in December 2019 by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, following Senator Johnny Isakson's resignation due to health issues. During her tenure, Loeffler positioned herself as a staunch ally of Donald Trump. She faced a challenging election in 2020, losing to Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock in a runoff. Notably, Loeffler pledged loyalty to Trump's efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election results but withdrew her objections following the January 6 Capitol attack, calling the violence "abhorrent," according to CNN . Despite her short tenure in the Senate, she played a prominent role in conservative politics and was considered a loyal supporter of Trump's agenda. Read More: Is Matt Gaetz Still Under Investigation? What To Know About His Sex Trafficking Scandal Loeffler's political career was marred by allegations of insider trading. Reports from Vox revealed that Loeffler and her husband sold approximately $20 million worth of stocks in early 2020 after receiving Senate briefings on the economic impact of COVID-19. These sales reportedly occurred before the stock market experienced significant downturns due to the pandemic. Although Loeffler denied any wrongdoing, the controversy raised questions about her integrity and use of privileged information for personal financial gain. The scandal became a focal point of her reelection campaign, damaging her reputation among voters. In addition to her political and financial pursuits, Loeffler co-owned the WNBA team Atlanta Dream . Her ownership faced backlash in 2020 when she criticised the league's support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Many players called for her removal, leading to public scrutiny over her stance on social justice issues. In November 2024, reports from CNN indicated that President-elect Donald Trump is considering Loeffler for the position of Secretary of Agriculture. Her ties to Trump's campaign and her fundraising efforts have solidified her position as a key ally in his circle. However, as with all Cabinet appointments, nothing is final until formally announced. Kelly Loeffler's journey from a financial executive to a US Senator and a potential Cabinet member illustrates a career marked by ambition, controversy, and influence. While her wealth and business acumen have made her a significant figure in politics, allegations of insider trading and her stance on social justice issues have sparked widespread debate about her legacy.Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain