Gabbard had faced pointed questions from some Republican senators about her stances on Edward Snowden and surveillance authorities.

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.

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – Former United States Representative Tulsi Gabbard has cleared the Senate Intelligence Committee vote for her nomination as the next Director of National Intelligence, moving one step closer to full Senate confirmation. The vote was a close 9-8 decision along party lines.