Senators are expected to ask about her defense of the former government contractor, who released reams of data on U.S. surveillance programs and fled to Russia.

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.

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

Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly refused to call National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden a traitor during her confirmation hearing on Thursday, which some Republicans are privately admitting could threaten her chances of advancing out of committee.

Most Democrats and even some Republicans seemed uneasy with Tulsi Gabbard and her answers to their questions during her confirmation hearing with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Senators questioned Gabbard about views seen as echoing Russia's justification of its war, criticism of US involvement in Syria and a 2017 meeting with Bashar al-Assad.

Tulsi Gabbard grilled on 'traitor' Edward Snowden in confirmation hearingSource: C-SPAN

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

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

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

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,