Aspiring spy boss Tulsi Gabbard defended most of her controversial foreign policy takes during a lively Senate hearing Thursday, including her meeting with former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and her prior doubts about the legitimacy of US intelligence on his use of chemical weapons against his own people.

DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard faced heavy lines of questioning from lawmakers skeptical of her past endorsement of NSA leaker Edward Snowden and meetings with former Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.