House Intelligence Committee Leaders Reject Whistleblower Complaint Against Tulsi Gabbard, Blaming It on Politics
Republican leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees have dismissed a top-secret whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, with some claiming it was motivated by politics. The complaint, which alleges that Gabbard withheld classified information for political reasons, has been rejected by Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, and Congressman Rick Crawford, chair of the House intelligence committee.
According to Cotton, he agrees with an earlier inspector general's conclusion that the complaint does not appear credible and believes it was prompted by opposition to Gabbard and the Trump administration. "To be frank, it seems like just another effort by the president's critics in and out of government to undermine policies they don't like," Cotton wrote.
Crawford also expressed skepticism about the complaint, describing it as an attempt to smear Gabbard's reputation. Meanwhile, Democrats are questioning why Gabbard's office took eight months to refer the complaint to Congress, with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia noting that the law requires such a report to be sent within 21 days.
Despite the rejection, Democratic lawmakers continue to raise concerns about the matter, and one attorney for the whistleblower has argued that there is no justification for keeping the complaint from Congress. The identity of the whistleblower remains unknown.
The controversy comes as Gabbard faces scrutiny over her role in the intelligence community and her recent involvement in a high-profile election dispute in Georgia.
Republican leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees have dismissed a top-secret whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, with some claiming it was motivated by politics. The complaint, which alleges that Gabbard withheld classified information for political reasons, has been rejected by Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, and Congressman Rick Crawford, chair of the House intelligence committee.
According to Cotton, he agrees with an earlier inspector general's conclusion that the complaint does not appear credible and believes it was prompted by opposition to Gabbard and the Trump administration. "To be frank, it seems like just another effort by the president's critics in and out of government to undermine policies they don't like," Cotton wrote.
Crawford also expressed skepticism about the complaint, describing it as an attempt to smear Gabbard's reputation. Meanwhile, Democrats are questioning why Gabbard's office took eight months to refer the complaint to Congress, with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia noting that the law requires such a report to be sent within 21 days.
Despite the rejection, Democratic lawmakers continue to raise concerns about the matter, and one attorney for the whistleblower has argued that there is no justification for keeping the complaint from Congress. The identity of the whistleblower remains unknown.
The controversy comes as Gabbard faces scrutiny over her role in the intelligence community and her recent involvement in a high-profile election dispute in Georgia.