India, Feb. 12 -- Tulsi Gabbard was on Wednesday confirmed by the US Senate as President Donald Trump's director of national intelligence after Republicans who had initially questioned her experience and judgment fell in line behind her nomination.

Gabbard's confirmation came after a tight procedural vote of 52-46, ending a contentious nomination process that highlighted deep divisions both within Congress and the public over her past political positions and statements.

The final vote cleared the way for the former Hawaii representative to take the helm of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), a key position responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of the U.S.'s 18 intelligence agencies. The posit...