Gabbard, Patel face Senate scrutiny during confirmation hearings

Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s picks to head the US intelligence and law enforcement agencies, respectively, faced tough questions during their Senate confirmation hearings yesterday.

Gabbard faced bipartisan doubt about her suitability to serve as Trump’s director of national intelligence, while Kash Patel, nominated for FBI director, gained support despite Democratic opposition.

Former Democrat and military veteran Gabbard was grilled about her past remarks supporting Edward Snowden. She acknowledged his lawbreaking but refrained from calling him a “traitor.”

She also faced questions about her relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria’s former dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Patel was pressed on his past comments praising individuals involved in the January 6 attack on the Capitol and his connections to the QAnon movement.