Gabbard has every right to her personal views, however inscrutable they may be. As a private citizen, she can apologize for Assad and Putin to her heart’s content. But as a security risk, Gabbard is a walking Christmas tree of warning lights. If she is nominated to be America’s top intelligence officer, that’s everyone’s business.

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that he is appointing former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard —the ex-Democrat from Hawaii—as his director of national intelligence (DNI).