Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard just took a secret 'fact-finding trip' to Syria

[TomSea]

Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard just took a secret 'fact-finding trip' to Syria
    Natasha Bertrand

U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) speaks after being awarded a Frontier Award during a ceremony at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts November 25, 2013. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. Thomson Reuters

Democratic congresswoman and Iraq War veteran Tulsi Gabbard is on a "fact-finding trip" to Syria and Lebanon, Gabbard's spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday.

Foreign Policy first reported that the Hawaii representative visited Damascus, Syria's capital, during her trip. The visit was kept a secret for security reasons, according to her spokeswoman.

"As a Member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, and as an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders," Emily Latimer, Gabbard's communications director, told Business Insider in an emailed statement.

Continued: http://www.businessinsider.com/tulsi-gabbard-trip-syria-2017-1