Tulsi Gabbardinsisted Thursday she ’s no one ’s “ marionette ” and advertise back against senator ’ accusation that she back alien authoritarian and a illustrious U.S. whistle-blower who flee to Russia .

Gabbard , PresidentDonald Trump ’s selection to become manager of home intelligence operation , repeatedly deny to suffice a head dumbfound by several member of the Senate Intelligence Committee think her nominating address .

This was # # dive into tulsi gabbardinsisted

tulsi gabbardinsisted thursday she ’s no one ’s “ tool ” and push back against senator ’ accusal that she support extraneous dictator and a noted u.s. whistle-blower who flee to russia .

Edward Snowden, former intelligence officer who served the CIA, NSA, and DIA for nearly a decade as a subject matter expert on technology and cyber security, speaks from Russia to the audience for an interview by James Ball, during the annual Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon.

Tulsi Gabbard was grilled over whether she considers Edward Snowden a traitor.Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Gabbard , PresidentDonald Trump ’s option to become manager of home news , repeatedly turn down to do a motion place by several member of the Senate Intelligence Committee deliberate her nominating address .

“ IsEdward Snowdena treasonist ?

” Sen. Michael Bennet ( D - CO ) call for , notice that the GOP chairwoman of the commission has call in Snowden a treasonist .

Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard did n’t direct do the interrogative sentence , as Bennet rise visibly wild .

” Bennet fume .

This was “ is edward snowden a double-dealer to the united states of america ?

Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, speaks during an appearance on Fox Nation on September 11, 2024 in New York City.

# diving event into bennet

gabbard did n’t direct sort out the dubiousness , as bennet develop visibly raging .

” Bennet fume .

“ Is Edward Snowden a double-dealer to the United States of America ?

Republican Sen. Todd Young mildly caution Gabbard , order her it would profit her prospect of verification if she would plainly say whether the “ great whistle blower in American surety , so address , harm internal security measures .

Snowden , the U.S. DoD contractile organ who expose extremely classified entropy about American intelligence information gather and who now live in Russia , became the flash point of the auditory sense .

The Maine Republican enquire Gabbard if she would move to pardon or give mercifulness to Snowden if she get over the senator ’ concern and becomes conductor of home news .

This was # # dive into snowden

snowden , the u.s. defense force contractile organ who unwrap extremely classified selective information about american intelligence agency assemblage and who now dwell in russia , became the flash point of the audition .

The Maine Republican call for Gabbard if she would move to pardon or allow mercifulness to Snowden if she get the best the senator ’ business organisation and becomes theater director of internal intelligence information .

This was “ my responsibleness would be to assure the security department of our commonwealth ’s mystery , and would not take natural action to urge for any action at law bear on to snowden , ” gabbard answer .

Collins need Gabbard about conjecture that she has meet with leader of the Iranian - back terrorist organizationHezbollah .

“ Have you ever wittingly meet with any member , leadership or affiliate of Hezbollah ?

” Collins ask .

“ No , and it is an derisory charge , ” Gabbard say .

senator on both side of the gangway raise business concern about the former popular congressman , whose retiring joining to the ghostlike drawing card of a “ personality furore ” has follow under examination , and some paint the 43 - yr - onetime campaigner as uninitiate .

But senator on the muscular citizens committee that will find her destiny as Trump ’s choice for the top interior intelligence operation problem were focalise on her linkup to Russian PresidentVladimir Putinand now - depone Syrian dictatorBashar al - Assad .

This was “ putin start the state of war in ukraine , ” she concede at one detail .

“ I value this recent transition but I ’m not certain I corrupt it , ” Warner say .

Gabbard crusade back early on against her popular critic , insist she ’s a firm American who be intimate her land .

“ Those who fight back my nominating speech inculpate that I am firm to something or someone other than God , my own moral sense and the Constitution of the United States .

accuse me of being Trump ’s creature , Putin ’s tool , Assad ’s marionette , a guru ’s tool , Modi ’s tool , not agnize the fatuousness of at the same time being the creature of five unlike creature professional , ” she say .

Senate Intelligence Chairman Tom Cotton fight down Gabbard against publicimplicationsabout her charitable thought on Russia and Syria .

“ She has undergo five FBI ground halt , ” he say , add that he in person review “ more than 300 page ” of her filing cabinet .

“ It ’s uncontaminating as a tin whistle , ” Cotton allege .