Three of President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees faced sharp questions in the Senate during hearings Thursday from Democrats as well as several Republican senators in what amounted to the most direct skepticism from GOP senators over Trump’s nominees to date.

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.

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

Tulsi Gabbard refused to call Edward Snowden a traitor despite repeated pressure from senators. Her stance may jeopardise her bid to become Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence.

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.

Gabbard started again as Bennet insisted, “Yes or no? Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?”

Gabbard’s attack strategy at her confirmation hearing Thursday didn’t garner the high praise from Republicans some other Trump nominees have gotten.

President Donald Trump's nominees for key Cabinet positions faced contentious confirmation hearings, and a key ally who helped spearhead Trump's ground campaign is firing more warning shots — at Republicans.

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

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