President Trump’s controversial pick for national intelligence chief angered Republicans by refusing to condemn government leaker Edward Snowden.

Gabbard was questioned by Republicans and Democrats alike on her views of Snowden and whether she believes he was a traitor. She declined to say she believed he was a traitor, repeating that she felt he had broken the law and reiterating a point that she has made in the past, that he exposed practices that have resulted in the reform of 702.

In 2020, then-Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation calling on the federal government to drop all charges against Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency contractor who in 2013 revealed the existence of the bulk collection of American phone records by the NSA before fleeing to Russia.

When one lawmaker asked if she believed Mr. Snowden was a traitor, Ms. Gabbard simply said that she was ‘focused on the future.’

Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley voiced concerns Thursday about the fate of Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), warning that she may not have enough Republican support to be confirmed.

In dueling confirmation hearings, Trump’s DNI pick appeared on shaky ground after refusing to condemn Edward Snowden as a “traitor,” while FBI director nominee Kash Patel won plaudits from Republicans.

Gabbard's previous comments about Snowden, responsible for one of the most damaging leaks of sensitive U.S. intelligence, were the focal point of her hearing.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s pick to be the next director of national intelligence, endured a difficult hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday as lawmakers pressed her on

Preferring to defend spy agencies and line up behind the hawkish consensus, the bipartisan elite ignores the director of national intelligence nominee’s rampant Islamophobia.

The Republican-led Senate hasn't yet rejected any of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, but Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appear to be on shaky ground.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the unusual example of a Trump nominee who Republicans find more polarizing than Democrats.