Gabbard’s office denies wrongdoing amid scrutiny over whistleblower complaint
Gabbard’s office denies wrongdoing amid scrutiny over whistleblower complaint
Publish Date: 2026-02-09 12:39:00
Source Domain: www.nextgov.com
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s office is rejecting allegations raised in a whistleblower complaint and related media reporting, saying her handling of highly classified intelligence was lawful as lawmakers press for more information about the case.
“Every single action taken by DNI Gabbard was fully within her legal and statutory authority, and these politically motivated attempts to manipulate highly classified information undermine the essential national security work being done by great Americans in the Intelligence Community every day,” a spokesperson for Gabbard told Nextgov/FCW on Sunday.
The response follows a series of reports describing intelligence derived from a National Security Agency–intercepted phone call referenced in the whistleblower complaint. The Guardian, citing the whistleblower’s attorney Andrew Bakaj, said NSA analysts flagged a discussion between two foreign intelligence figures who spoke about a person close to President Donald Trump.
Subsequent reporting by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal said the discussion, in part, involved Iran and cited people familiar with the matter.
According to the Guardian, the intelligence was elevated to Gabbard, who later delivered a paper copy directly to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles rather than allowing it to be circulated more broadly. The outlet reported that Gabbard then instructed the NSA not to publish the report and instead directed that the classified details be sent to her office.
Nextgov/FCW was not able to independently verify the reporting. The complaint remains highly classified, limiting visibility into the intelligence underpinning it to a small circle of officials. Bakaj has not returned multiple requests for comment.
In a memo to lawmakers posted online by Gabbard’s office, Intelligence Community Inspector General Chris Fox said the whistleblower alleged Gabbard restricted the sharing of the intelligence for political purposes. Fox…
