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.

Facing more than a dozen questions about her views on NSA leaker Edward Snowden, Tulsi Gabbard held her ground at her Senate confirmation hearing.

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

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.”

Three Trump administration picks faced confirmation hearings Thursday on Capitol Hill: Kash Patel for FBI director, Tulsi Gabbard as the head of national intelligence and Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F.

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,

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.

President Trump's nominee to be top US spy, Tulsi Gabbard, and pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, face tough Senate hearings.

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.

President Donald Trump’s new administration is looking ahead to key Senate hearings this week for three of his most controversial nominees.