Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to be Director of National Intelligence, refused to call Edward Snowden a traitor at her confirmation hearing.

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.

Three of President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees faced sharp questions in the Senate during hearings Thursday from Democrats as well as several Republican senators in what amounted to the most direct skepticism from GOP senators over Trump’s nominees to date.

Senators also questioned Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence over whether a controversial spying authority needed additional reforms in place.

Susan Collins rushed between two simultaneous Senate confirmation hearings on Thursday to question two of President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees. Collins began by questioning Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for director of National Intelligence,

Gabbard started again as Bennet insisted, “Yes or no? Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?”

Gabbard’s attack strategy at her confirmation hearing Thursday didn’t garner the high praise from Republicans some other Trump nominees have gotten.

President Donald Trump's nominees for key Cabinet positions faced contentious confirmation hearings, and a key ally who helped spearhead Trump's ground campaign is firing more warning shots — at Republicans.

President Donald Trump's pick for Director of National Intelligence faced tough questions from Maine senators on Capitol Hill Thursday.

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.