Gabbard faces repeated questions about Edward Snowden, surveillance law in confirmation hearing to be DNI

Gabbard distanced herself from her previous support of Edward Snowden, who she vowed to pardon during the 2020 presidential campaign. 

“Edward Snowden broke the law. I do not agree with or support with all of the information and intelligence that he released, nor the way in which he did it,” Gabbard told Warner. 

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine asked Gabbard whether she would “support or recommend a pardon or any kind of clemency” for Snowden. 

“If confirmed as the director of national intelligence, my responsibility would be to ensure the security of our nation’s secrets, and would not take actions to advocate for any actions related to Snowden,” Gabbard said. 

“So the answer is no, is that correct?” Collins asked. 

“Correct,” Gabbard said. 

In 2020, Gabbard called for the dismissal of charges against Snowden, who leaked a trove of information on the U.S. government’s top-secret mass surveillance programs. Snowden fled to Hong Kong and later Russia, where he lives in exile, after the leak.

“If it wasn’t for Snowden, the American people would never have learned the NSA was collecting phone records and spying on Americans. As president, I will protect whistle-blowers who expose threats to our freedom and liberty,” she wrote in 2019. 

Hours before the hearing, Snowden had a message for Gabbard: “Tulsi Gabbard will be required to disown all prior support for whistleblowers as a condition of confirmation today. I encourage her to do so. Tell them I harmed national security and the sweet, soft feelings of staff. In D.C., that’s what passes for the pledge of allegiance,” he wrote.