Live updates: Senate questions Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard in ...

Phil McCauslandReporting from New York

Edward Snowden, Bashar al-Assad, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the future of American surveillance cast a huge shadow in Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing to serve as Trump's director of national intelligence.

Though senators' public questioning of Gabbard lasted just short of three hours before it went behind closed doors.

The former Democratic congresswoman deftly navigated many challenging questions about intelligence gathering and the workforce she will be leading - many of her answers were clearly polished by her time as a TV political commentator.

But several of her views clearly sparked concern and tense exchanges with Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Members of both parties drew focus to her defence of Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower who leaked millions of classified documents. Republicans and Democrats asked her multiple times whether she considered Snowden - someone who she has previously argued should be pardoned for his crimes - a traitor to the US.

Gabbard dug in her heels on the matter, refusing to answer and making the moment uneasy for several Republicans. Other exchanges on her assessment of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons, her decision to travel to Syria, and changing views on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, also drew raised eyebrows from the panel.

Gabbard's nomination was one that many believed could be derailed because of her past. Remember, she cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote in the Senate Intelligence Committee.