Tulsi Gabbard fought back against what she called “smears,” declaring she is nobody’s “puppet” before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, has faced tough questions from lawmakers during a fiery confirmation hearing Thursday.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) announced Thursday that he supports former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s (R-Hawaii) nomination to serve as director of national intelligence,

EXCLUSIVE: Dozens of top former intelligence officials are urging members of the Senate to confirm President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, saying she will “begin undoing the gross politicization that has come to characterize intelligence bureaucracies,

He cited Republicans' success pushing through another of Trump's more controversial nominees as reason to be bullish.

Facing more than a dozen questions about her views on NSA leaker Edward Snowden, Tulsi Gabbard held her ground at her Senate confirmation hearing.

Senators favoring Gabbard hope to pressure lawmakers to back her by making the panel vote public, Politico reported. Cotton himself is generally regarded as a hawk and supporter of the intelligence community.

WASHINGTON: Former US Representative Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence, faced harsh criticism of her past defence of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and comments seen as supportive of Russia at a confirmation hearing on Thursday (Jan 30).

Ms. Gabbard, President Trump’s pick for national intelligence director, was repeatedly asked during a confirmation hearing whether Edward Snowden’s leaks made him a traitor. Ms. Gabbard told senators only that he “broke the law.

Gabbard had her confirmation hearing on Thursday as senators questioned her on her alliances and controversies.

Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) acknowledged Gabbard’s “unconventional views,” but characterized her as free thinker who can push back on the type of mainstream foreign policy thinking that has dragged the country into disastrous wars abroad.