Tulsi Gabbard fought back against what she called “smears,” declaring she is nobody’s “puppet” before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Gabbard had her confirmation hearing on Thursday as senators questioned her on her alliances and controversies.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) announced Thursday that he supports former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s (R-Hawaii) nomination to serve as director of national intelligence,

Most Democrats and even some Republicans seemed uneasy with Tulsi Gabbard and her answers to their questions during her confirmation hearing with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, has faced tough questions from lawmakers during a fiery confirmation hearing Thursday.

Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the U.S. military since 2003 and is President Donald Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence.

If confirmed, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard would become the youngest-ever DNI. Sources tell ABC News the vote on her nomination is expected to be close.

Senators quizzed Trump's pick for Director of National Intelligence on her past support for leaker Edward Snowden and for meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

He cited Republicans' success pushing through another of Trump's more controversial nominees as reason to be bullish.

EXCLUSIVE: Dozens of top former intelligence officials are urging members of the Senate to confirm President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, saying she will “begin undoing the gross politicization that has come to characterize intelligence bureaucracies,

Critics blasted the meeting as legitimizing Assad four years after he used lethal chemical weapons on Syrian civilians. "It was common knowledge that Assad was gassing the civilian population,