• Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, struggles during Senate confirmation hearings.
• Key topics include Gabbard's controversial views on Edward Snowden and her 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
• Republican skepticism grows as several GOP senators express concerns over her refusal to label Snowden a traitor.
• Democratic leaders, including Sen. Mark Warner, strongly oppose Gabbard's nomination based on her past statements.
• The final confirmation vote remains uncertain as Gabbard must secure Republican support amidst a divided Senate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — During her recent confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by President Trump as Director of National Intelligence, faced intense questioning over her past controversial positions. Senators from both parties raised red flags regarding her opinions about Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked sensitive information about U.S. surveillance programs in 2013, and a perplexing meeting she had with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Gabbard has previously supported Snowden, calling him a "brave" whistleblower and co-sponsoring legislation urging for the dropping of charges against him. During the hearing, however, when pressed by Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) and others on whether she considered Snowden a traitor, she consistently dodged the question, stating instead, "Edward Snowden broke the law" and emphasizing her focus on preventing similar leaks in the future. This evasive response led to frustration among lawmakers, including Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), who noted, "This is not a hard question to answer," indicating that Gabbard's political judgment might be in question.

Furthermore, the scrutiny intensified surrounding her 2017 visit to Assad amidst ongoing U.S. criticisms of the Syrian dictator. Gabbard maintained that she engaged Assad on human rights and used the opportunity to ask difficult questions about his regime while asserting, "I have no love for Assad or any dictator."

The hearing showcased a stark divide within the GOP as well, with Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) expressing worries about Gabbard's chances for confirmation, underpinned by potential opposition from Republican stalwarts such as Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Given the Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate, Gabbard can only afford to lose three GOP votes if all Democrats oppose her nomination.

Senator Warner declared he would be voting against Gabbard, citing concerns that her inability to clearly denounce Snowden's actions would erode allies' trust in U.S. intelligence operations. With the committee vote expected soon, Gabbard's path to confirmation appears increasingly precarious.

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