Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard refers whistleblower case tied to Trump’s 2019 impeachment to the Justice Department, releasing documents alleging misconduct.
Tulsi Gabbard Sends Criminal Referral Over Trump’s 2019 Impeachment to The Justice Department
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has submitted one criminal referral to the Justice Department, requesting an investigation into a whistleblower complaint and how it was handled by the intelligence community watchdog. The complaint played a key role in the 2019 impeachment of President Donald Trump, according to a spokesperson for Gabbard’s office on Wednesday.
In support of the referral, Gabbard recently declassified and released documents she claims reveal a “conspiracy” by Congress to impeach Trump. Her office argues the materials show that then-Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson failed to follow proper procedures in processing the whistleblower complaint.
The released records include transcripts of Atkinson’s 2019 testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, along with notes from interviews conducted with the whistleblower.
The existence of the referral was first reported by Fox News. Atkinson, who served 15 years at the Justice Department before becoming inspector general from 2018 to 2020, had been widely regarded as credible. His reputation previously led some skeptical lawmakers to take the whistleblower allegations seriously.
Trump dismissed Atkinson in April 2020, a move that raised concerns among critics who feared it could undermine the independence of government watchdogs.
During her tenure, Gabbard has echoed Trump’s longstanding claims that he was wrongly accused of ties between his campaign and Russia. In recent months, she has worked alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe to release documents challenging the 2017 intelligence assessment that concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to benefit Trump.
Ratcliffe has also issued a separate criminal referral targeting former CIA Director John Brennan.
An Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) spokesperson confirmed the referral involves one or more former intelligence officials and their actions related to Trump’s impeachment.
Speaking to NewsNation, Gabbard said she would leave it to legal experts and the Justice Department to determine whether any laws were violated. She emphasized that her office submitted all available information to allow a full investigation.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, criticized the move. He argued the referral lacks merit and warned it could discourage future whistleblowers from coming forward, suggesting that may be its intended effect.
Separately, Gabbard herself has faced a whistleblower complaint in recent months. The current intelligence community inspector general informed Congress last year of allegations that a highly classified intelligence report had been restricted for political reasons. Gabbard has denied those claims.
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