Tulsi Gabbard's nomination on shaky ground after 'deep concerns' arise during nasty hearing

Tulsi Gabbard's information is connected shaky crushed aft a bruising confirmation proceeding which led to immoderate senators raising much concerns.

Donald Trump's prime to service arsenic Director of National Intelligence appeared earlier the Senate Intelligence Committee connected Thursday wherever she faced a brutal grilling from senators connected some sides of the aisle. 

The erstwhile Democratic congresswoman turned adjacent Trump state was grilled implicit 2017 question to Syria, whistleblower Edward Snowden and her views connected Russia.

Gabbard was connected defence from the commencement and astatine times was defiant arsenic lawmakers pressed her implicit her existent views and past words and actions. 

Even earlier she was named Trump's prime for apical U.S. quality officer, the MAGA favourite had been facing disapproval for erstwhile gathering with then-Syrian dictator and accused of Russian sympathies. 

The Senate Intelligence Committee has 9 Republicans and 8 Democrats.

Gabbard volition request the enactment of each GOP legislator connected the committee for her information to beforehand to the Senate level arsenic she is not expected to person enactment from immoderate Democrats. 

But immoderate Republicans were expressing concerns pursuing her hours of questioning connected the hill. 

Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) pressed Gabbard during the proceeding whether she believes Snowden is simply a traitor for leaking highly classified documents earlier fleeing the country. 

She doubled down that she was focused connected preventing aboriginal leaks but did not telephone him a traitor.

Lankford, who antecedently said helium would enactment her confirmation, said aft the proceeding that determination are 'a batch of questions aft it.'

Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) besides appeared frustrated by Gabbard's responses about  Snowden during the hearing. 

'It's notable you didn't accidental "yes, helium intelligibly wounded successful assorted ways our nationalist security,"' Young told her.

He besides brought up that Gabbard has argued Snowden should beryllium pardoned but argued Snowden's actions apt endangered American lives. 

'I deliberation it would befit you and beryllium adjuvant to the mode you are perceived by members of the quality assemblage if you would astatine slightest admit that the top whistleblower successful American history, truthful called, harmed nationalist information by breaking the laws of the onshore astir our intel authority,' Young told her.

He has not signaled which mode helium plans to ballot connected the nominee. 

 While not a subordinate of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) did beryllium successful connected her confirmation hearing. He said helium near the proceeding 'with much questions than answers.'

'Some of her responses, and non-responses, created much disorder than clarity and lone deepened my concerns astir her judgement and what that volition mean successful this captious role,' helium said successful a statement. 

'I stay committed to cautiously reviewing Ms. Gabbard’s afloat grounds earlier making a last determination connected her nomination,' helium added.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is besides viewed arsenic a imaginable plaything vote. The legislator asked Gabbard astir Snowden arsenic good arsenic brought up reports Gabbard met with  affiliates of Hezbollah. 

Gabbard denied it and called it an 'absurd accusation.' 

After the hearings Thursday, Collins said she has 'not made a last decision.' 

'She responded good to my questions, but I haven't seen her responses to everybody's questions,' Collins, who had to power backmost and distant betwixt 2 hearings connected Thursday, said. 

Collins besides told reporters she was 'happy' with however Gabbard answered her questions including saying nary to her question astir whether she would urge pardoning Snowden.

Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) besides said she answered his questions during the proceeding to his 'satisfaction' aft Gabbard told him she was 'offended' by 1 of his questions. 

With immoderate GOP senators signaling concerns oregon frustrations it remains unclear whether Gabbard's information volition marque it retired of committee arsenic it lone takes 1 Republican nary vote.

Some senators not connected the committee, specified arsenic Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) person indicated they are seeing what happens successful the committee alternatively than weighing in.

 While immoderate senators stay connected the obstruction oregon are holding their cards close, the fiery proceeding did not dissuade different members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. 

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton  (R-Ark.) said she should beryllium confirmed and indicated helium believes she volition successful the extremity beryllium confirmed successful an interrogation connected Fox News. 

Republicans bash not request Democrats' enactment if they stay agreed nor are they expected to get immoderate Democrats' enactment for Gabbard.

But lawmakers crossed the aisle came retired of the proceeding sounding the alarms implicit making her the country's apical quality official.

'She couldn't telephone Edward Snowden a traitor. She didn't adjacent refute calling him brave,' Ranking subordinate Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) told reporters. 

'She didn't adjacent contradict her measure to springiness him a pardon. What connection would that nonstop to allies astir the world? Would you spot to stock information?' helium added.

He said helium respects her work but has 'huge issues with her judgement.'