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.

Though well ensconced at home in Russia, accused leaker and U.S. defector Edward Snowden nonetheless took center stage at former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Thursday,

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

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to serve as the director of national intelligence, will testify Thursday morning at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 43-year-old former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and combat veteran would oversee the nation's 18 spy agencies.

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

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

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, Donald Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, faced sharp questioning from lawmakers during her Senate confirmation hea

Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence — faces skepticism over past comments from Democrats and Republicans

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

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.