Gabbard replied that she had only meant to highlight the “egregiously illegal and unconstitutional programs” that Snowden had exposed—specifically NSA programs that intercepted communications of U.S. citizens—and that his leaks had led to “serious reforms.”

Director of national intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard and FBI director selection Kash Patel testified for the first time, while Health and Human Services pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr.