Donald Trump's nominee to be director of national intelligence refused to call Edward Snowden a "traitor" under questioning by senators on Thursday.

President Trump’s choice to serve as the director of national intelligence faced tough questions from senators in both parties.

Tulsi Gabbard faced tough questions Thursday about past comments about Russia, Syria and government leaker Edward Snowden during a Senate confirmation hearing on her nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence service.

One expert says her views are ‘so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming’, Richard Hall and Andrew Feinberg write

Tulsi Gabbard was grilled over her past support for leaker Edward Snowden, her dealings with Syria’s ousted president and sympathies for Russia as she tried to convince sceptical senators to confirm her as Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence.

Hearing-mania is set to consume Capitol Hill on Thursday as a trio of President Trump’s top allies appear for high-stakes confirmation showdowns with senators that could make or break their

WASHINGTON - Former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence, faced harsh criticism of her past defense of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and comments seen as supportive of Russia at a confirmation hearing on Thursday.

Senators questioned Ms Gabbard about views seen as echoing Russia's justification of its war against Ukraine. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The former Hawaii congresswoman isn’t just unqualified to be director of national intelligence, she’s a political opportunist.

Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr face contentious confirmation hearings - RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel’s Senate confirmation hearings underway on Capitol Hill

Among the topics that have come up: her stance on an electronic surveillance program, her push to drop charges against Edward Snowden and her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.