The Law on the Senate Committee, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, asked questions about Russian aggressive Russian attacks, in the confirmation of the use of chemical weapons and government surveillance programs on Thursday.
Edward Snowden’s expressions were about the escape of the national secrets, which created the most colorful moments of his three-hour public testimony.
Senators on both sides Gabbard offered him to the ex-democratic congress.
While Snowden recognized that he broke the law several times, the temperature was sometimes stood in the panel in some ways to frustrate some republicans.
President Donald Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, is a candidate for the Director of National Intelligence, to inform the Senate Intelligence Committee, in Capitol Hill, 2025. January 30.
Kevin Dietetsch / Getty Images
Gabbard in the past, Snowden has named a “brave” sharmlower, the intellectual community violated civil liberties. As a legislature, he presented legislation that supports a clemency grant.
Thursday, he repeatedly refused to withdraw this characterization. And repeatedly refused to call him “treacherous”.
“This is the rubber on the road,” Michael Bennet’s Democratic Senate audition. “This is not for social media, this is not a moment to spread conspiracy theories … ie when you need to answer questions of the people you need to confirm as the chief nation’s chief intellectual.”
“Is Edward Snowden to the United States of America? This is not a tough question to answer when the participations are high,” he continued.
Meant. Instead, Gabbard repeated that his actions were illegal and disagreed with its methods.
“Edward Snowden broke the law,” he said. “I don’t agree or protect with all the information and intelligence, nor did he or her way.”
But, he added, released information that explained clear, illegal and constitutional programs. “
Gabbard is the most difficult path to the confirmation of all selector in the cabinet of Donald Trump. The Committee cannot be lost in the Republic, and at least two members of the panel, Susan Collins and Todd Young refused to provide support after the open part of the hearing.
While he was on Snowden, Gabbard went after other topics, in 2022, the US and NATO forces caused him to war with Russia Ukraine. Asked by the Senator Martin Heinrich, he was responsible for the attack of Moscow: Gabbard did not doubt: “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin began the war in Ukraine.”
He also said, “he didn’t throw tears for the fall of the Assad regime”, Bashar Al-Assad, quoting the former Syrian dictator last year in Damascus. Gabbard was chased in 2017 for the person in person with Assad and later, doubts about the intelligence related to the use of chemical weapons.
Several Senators also raised the past criticisms of Gabbard government surveillance programs, including the FISA 702 authority, which allows you to gather electronic communications from the country that is not outside the country outside the country.
Gabbard expressed support for FISA 702 and he voted as a conference against his reactivity as a reflection of the attitude towards defending civil liberties.
“I will keep in mind that my actions in the Congress legislation was made to attract attention to the violations of civil liberties that were happening at the time,” Gabbard said.
But in Snowden, Gabbard refused to go back. Republican Senses. James Lankford and Todd Young introduced several options to clarify his opinions about the government ironer. Each time, he flattened.
“(Snowden) Have you betrayed American people’s trust?” The young man asked.
“Edward Snowden broke the law,” he said, “and he released that information he released in a way.”
Gabbard faced himself since Snowden’s presidential forgiveness, now that he lives in Moscow, where there is no extradition treaty. In an exchange with Collins, DNI has not tasked to defend the actions of clemency.
“My responsibility would be to ensure the security of our nation’s secret,” Gabbard said. “And they would not take actions to defend for actions related to Snowden.”
Collins said whether to protect Gabbard’s candidacy, and said he was reviewing his testimony.
But when asked if the jury continued with his help, he said, “It’s right, I want to make a specific decision.”
Tom Cotton Senators, R-Arkansas, president of the Committee, said he will soon be eligible for Gabbard. The closed audience door continued on Thursday evening.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin helped this report.
