Gabbard Responds to Allegations About a Whistleblower File
A former intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, has stated that she did not block Congress from accessing a whistleblower complaint. She said that once she learned the filing required security instructions, she acted immediately.
Complaint Filing
The complaint was filed in May with an inspector general and accused the top spy office of attempting to prevent certain classified information from being shared for political reasons. Gabbard was appointed director by former President Trump in 2020.November Letter
In November, the whistleblower’s lawyer sent a letter to Gabbard and congressional committees alleging that she had not provided the necessary guidance for lawmakers to handle the complaint. Democratic leaders, including Senator Mark Warner, argued that the office should have forwarded it to Congress within 21 days.
Gabbard’s Response
Gabbard posted on social media that Democrats were spreading a “blatant lie.” She noted that past inspectors general had found the complaint untrustworthy and added that the 21‑day rule applies only if a complaint is urgent and credible. She also claimed she had not been informed that the whistleblower chose to send the file directly to Congress. When she finally learned on December 4 that security instructions were needed, she said she took immediate action.Reporting
Major papers have reported that the complaint involved an intelligence intercept linked to someone close to Trump. Reuters could not confirm the details of the original filing.
