Tulsi Gabbard Says Trump Requested Her at FBI’s Fulton County Raid in Letter to Lawmakers
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed she attended the FBI’s search of the Fulton County election center in Georgia last week at President Donald Trump’s request, saying her presence fell within her election-security authorities. Her letter to top congressional intelligence leaders acknowledged she observed the execution of a search warrant and facilitated a brief phone call between the president and FBI agents, during which no directives were issued.
The revelation has intensified conflict between the DNI’s office and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that her involvement in a domestic law enforcement operation investigating 2020 election records was unusual and possibly outside her statutory role.
Gabbard wrote that her attendance was tied to her duty to “coordinate, integrate, and analyze intelligence related to election security, including counter-intelligence, foreign and other malign influence and cybersecurity,” and that her actions were consistent with legal authority.
Her explanation raised new questions about why the national intelligence chief was present at a local FBI raid and how that aligns with the ODNI’s traditional foreign focus. Gabbard emphasized that neither she nor the president issued operational guidance during the FBI operation.
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“It was executed under my broad statutory authority to coordinate intelligence related to election security,” Gabbard wrote.
The episode comes amid broader controversy over the FBI’s seizure of ballots and election material tied to Donald Trump’s rejected claims of widespread fraud — claims that have been repeatedly dismissed by courts and election officials.
Republican defenders argue her presence highlights federal efforts to safeguard elections, while critics see political overreach and blurred lines between intelligence and law enforcement.
Gabbard’s letter does not fully satisfy lawmakers’ concerns, and committees are expected to press for additional briefings and documentation. What happens next will depend on congressional oversight actions and any further disclosures from the intelligence and justice communities.
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