Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden defended former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee to be Director of National Intelligence, following a fiery

Meghan McCain expressed her fury over the possibility of DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard being rejected by the Senate on Friday. The post ‘If She Were a Man!’ Meghan McCain Furious GOP Might ‘Screw’ Tulsi Gabbard,

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.

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

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.

Any one of those resume bullet points might be enough to sink her precariously perched nomination, but in her confirmation hearing today it was Edward Snowden that dominated the discussion. Judging from the line of questioning from senators in both parties,

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 Donald Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence, faced sharp criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike Thursday during a fiery confirmation hearing focused on her past comments sympathetic to Russia,

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

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was “surprised” that director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard refused to call former NSA contractor Edward Snowden a “traitor” after being repeatedly pressed on the question at a Thursday hearing.

Explore the tumultuous Senate hearings for Trump's Cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel