President Donald Trump's picks for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and FBI director designate faced questioning during Senate hearings on Thursday, with questions regarding their experience and past judgment calls being raised. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, DNI nominee, faced scrutiny over her support for NSA leaker Edward Snowden, lack of national security experience, meeting with Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad, and promotion of Russian propaganda. These issues put her nomination at risk. Meanwhile, Kash Patel's nomination as FBI director also faced questioning from Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee who accused him of being an unrepentant conspiracy theorist and having an "enemies list." The committee members expressed concerns about his experience, temperament, and judgment in leading the FBI. However, Patel distanced himself from some of Trump's pardons for Capitol insurrection violence against law enforcement. The hearings come as Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been nominated by President Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), faced a second day of questioning on Capitol Hill regarding allegations of sexual assault. He denied the accusation, which he said had been debunked, and claimed he only apologized for something else. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding President Trump's cabinet nominations as they move through the confirmation process in the Senate. The hearings are expected to continue as the nominees face intensive scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

President Donald Trump's picks for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and FBI director designate faced questioning during Senate hearings on Thursday, with questions regarding their experience and past judgment calls being raised. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, DNI nominee, faced scrutiny over her support for NSA leaker Edward Snowden, lack of national security experience, meeting with Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad, and promotion of Russian propaganda. These issues put her nomination at risk. Meanwhile, Kash Patel's nomination as FBI director also faced questioning from Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee who accused him of being an unrepentant conspiracy theorist and having an "enemies list." The committee members expressed concerns about his experience, temperament, and judgment in leading the FBI. However, Patel distanced himself from some of Trump's pardons for Capitol insurrection violence against law enforcement. The hearings come as Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been nominated by President Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), faced a second day of questioning on Capitol Hill regarding allegations of sexual assault. He denied the accusation, which he said had been debunked, and claimed he only apologized for something else. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding President Trump's cabinet nominations as they move through the confirmation process in the Senate. The hearings are expected to continue as the nominees face intensive scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.