DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard slammed claims that she is puppet of President Donald Trump or Russia's Vladimir Putin in her opening remarks before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

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

Tulsi Gabbard’s father, Mike Gabbard, also pivoted from anti-gay activism to a career in local politics in Hawaii. He mounted a House bid in 2004 and fielded questions about his extensive ties to Butler and the group’s past attempts to back candidates. Mike Gabbard described himself as a “Catholic” who was “eternally thankful to Chris Butler.”

The nominee for director of national intelligence espoused provocative takes on foreign policy during public appearances. Senators are expected to challenge some of those in her confirmation hearing.

As the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings continue for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, PolitiFact is live fact-checking the hearings for FBI

President Donald Trump’s new administration is looking ahead to key Senate hearings this week for three of his most controversial nominees.

Sens. Susan Collins and Todd Young, who both serve on the Intelligence Committee, are among the Republicans who have yet to say whether they will support Tulsi Gabbard. Only one Republican would need to oppose her to block her nomination from being reported favorably to the full Senate,

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, faces a narrow path to confirmation amid concerns on a number of issues.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, is set to go before lawmakers Thursday for a confirmation hearing likely to focus on some of her past views on Russia and Syria.

Watch live as Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, faces questions in her Senate confirmation hearing.

Held on spurious charges, the real reason I was targeted was because I like countless other Christians throughout India who have been arrested, imprisoned, and even killed for their beliefs and practiced a faith deemed anathema by India’s ruling Hindu nationalist political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).