In dueling confirmation hearings, Trump’s DNI pick appeared on shaky ground after refusing to condemn Edward Snowden as a “traitor,” while FBI director nominee Kash Patel won plaudits from Republicans.

Senators are questioning Kash Patel today during his nomination for FBI Director and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. NBC News' Ryan Reilly reports the latest. Former Assistant FBI Director for Counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi joins Ana Cabrera to share his "deep" concerns on both Patel and Gabbard.

Tulsi Gabbard fought back against what she called “smears,” declaring she is nobody’s “puppet” before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Tulsi Gabbard confronted hard questions on Thursday during her confirmation hearing to be director of national intelligence.

As the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings continue for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, PolitiFact is live fact-checking the hearings for FBI

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to serve as the director of national intelligence, testifies 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.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, claimed during her Senate confirmation hearing she was placed on a secret domestic terror watch list after criticizing Kamala Harris and faced heated questions over her past statements on surveillance,

Trump vows Mexico, Canada tariffs to start Feb 1; Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard face Senate grilling: Live - Key Trump appointees RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel faced off with senators over past

Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are among Trump's more controversial nominees, and faced tough questions from senators Thursday.

Former Democrat and military veteran Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence was grilled about her past remarks supporting government whistleblower Edward Snowden as well as her relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria's former dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Tulsi Gabbard’s father, Mike Gabbard, also pivoted from anti-gay activism to a career in local politics in Hawaii. He mounted a House bid in 2004 and fielded questions about his extensive ties to Butler and the group’s past attempts to back candidates. Mike Gabbard described himself as a “Catholic” who was “eternally thankful to Chris Butler.”