Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard warned American democracy is under attack, criticizing the Department of Justice’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump in a speech at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, days after Trump admitted the former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate is on a list of potential vice presidential contenders. 

“The Democratic beat and the swamp creatures of Washington, who are doing all they possibly can to keep us, the American people, from a very simple thing, having the freedom to choose who we want to be our next president,” Gabbard said to applause, receiving the first standing ovation of the conservative conference.