Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s controversial pick to lead U.S. intelligence agencies, escaped from a close committee ballot and heads to a full Senate vote.

President Donald Trump's contentious nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence cleared a major hurdle on Tuesday when a Senate committee backed her for confirmation despite doubts about her lack of experience and past statements seen as supporting U.

Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to oversee the nation’s intelligence agencies passed a key hurdle on Tuesday when the Senate Intelligence Committee approved her in a close, party-line vote. Sen. Mark Kelly,