Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, is expected to get a grilling from Senate Intelligence Committee members Thursday on her controversial record on national security, including her 2017 meetings with then Syrian leader Bashar Assad.
Gabbard, a former Democrat who represented Hawaii in the House, is seeking to solidify enough Republican support to carry her to confirmation. If confirmed, she would lead an intelligence office that spans 18 agencies and organizations. She would advise Trump, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council on intelligence matters.
Some lawmakers have also criticized her support for Edward Snowden, an intelligence contractor who in 2013 disclosed the NSA’s information-gathering programs.
