What to know about Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing today: Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, is testifying Thursday to the Senate

Former Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina came back to Congress Thursday to support former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. She’s a controversial pick by President Donald Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard’s father, Mike Gabbard, also pivoted from anti-gay activism to a career in local politics in Hawaii. He mounted a House bid in 2004 and fielded questions about his extensive ties to Butler and the group’s past attempts to back candidates. Mike Gabbard described himself as a “Catholic” who was “eternally thankful to Chris Butler.”

Tulsi Gabbard fought back against what she called “smears,” declaring she is nobody’s “puppet” before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The nominee for director of national intelligence espoused provocative takes on foreign policy during public appearances. Senators are expected to challenge some of those in her confirmation hearing.

As the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings continue for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, PolitiFact is live fact-checking the hearings for FBI

Ahead of a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Thursday, the fate of Gabbard’s nomination rests in the hands of a small handful of undecided GOP senators: Maine’s Susan Collins, Indiana’s Todd Young, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell and Utah’s John Curtis.

President Donald Trump’s new administration is looking ahead to key Senate hearings this week for three of his most controversial nominees.

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Gabbard has faced criticism for a 2017 meeting with former Syrian President Bashar Assad, her position that Washington bears some responsibility for the war in Ukraine, and skepticism toward some findings of the U.S. intelligence community. Health and human services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to testify at 10 a.m.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said she is among the majority of senators who see Tulsi Gabbard as a security threat if she is confirmed as the director of national intelligence. President Donald Trump picked the former Democratic representative in the early days after he won the election.