Former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence, will face tough questioning on Russia, Syria and surveillance at what is expected to be a contentious Senate hearing on Thursday.

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.

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.

Watch the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on President Trump’s nominee for national intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard

If approved by the Senate, Gabbard will oversee US intelligence agencies like the CIA, FBI and the National Security Agency (NSA).

Gabbard is transferring her business to her spouse in a move experts said could create conflict of interest concerns.

If she is confirmed as director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard would be the youngest-ever in that role, the first millennial, the first Asian American, and only the second woman to hold the position.

Donald Trump’s FBI director pick Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Ambassador to the United Nations hopeful Elise Stefanik are among a string of confirmation hearings happening in the Senate today.

Tulsi Gabbard, US President Donald Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, exuded confidence that she she will bring “laser-like focus” back into the intelligence leadership. During the confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday,