Tulsi Gabbard Deflects Senate Questions Over Fulton County FBI Raid Role
DNI Tulsi Gabbard faced direct questions Wednesday about her presence at a controversial FBI raid in Georgia, but stopped short of giving clear answers.
The exchange quickly turned tense as Sen. Mark Warner pressed her on why a top intelligence official was at a domestic election-related operation.
Gabbard confirmed she attended the Fulton County raid “at the request of the president,” referring to Donald Trump, and said she was there only to observe. She added she did not participate in law enforcement and was unaware of the warrant’s contents, according to Scripps News.
But when asked about her communications with Trump or the justification for her presence, she declined to provide specifics, echoing similar refusals during questioning about intelligence briefings.
“I did not participate in a law enforcement activity,” Gabbard said during the hearing.
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The raid itself involved the FBI seizing ballots and election records tied to the 2020 election, a move linked to ongoing disputes over election integrity claims, according to Reuters and other outlets.
Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns that her involvement may cross traditional boundaries, as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence does not typically engage in domestic law enforcement actions.
The issue now centers on whether her presence signals a broader shift in how intelligence resources are used in election-related matters, and whether oversight mechanisms are being bypassed.
Further hearings are expected, with lawmakers signaling they will continue pressing for documentation and clearer explanations.
For now, key questions about authority and intent remain unresolved.
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