Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, took an unexpected step Wednesday. She appeared at the White House briefing room and directly attacked political opponents of President Donald Trump.
Gabbard questioned the widely accepted claim that Russia interfered to help Trump win in 2016. Instead, she alleged that former President Barack Obama and his advisors orchestrated a deliberate effort to undermine Trump’s victory.
“They conspired to undermine the will of the American people,” Gabbard said, accusing Obama’s team of fabricating evidence against Trump. She called this proof “unshakable.” However, much of her statement revisited old claims, lacking new evidence. Critics argue her remarks blur the lines between intelligence and political partisanship.
This development puts political intelligence under fire as the integrity of U.S. agencies faces new scrutiny. Gabbard explained her inquiry aimed to prevent the politicization of national security agencies. Yet, her critics raised doubts about her impartiality leading the intelligence community.
A former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard previously ran for president. Now, she stands firmly in Trump’s camp. She even brought her husband, who recorded her remarks on video.
President Trump, who earlier doubted her views on Iran’s nuclear program, publicly praised her. He pinned her video remarks atop his social media accounts. This move confirms Gabbard as one of Trump’s key defenders. She officially supported his claims regarding the Russia investigation that haunted his first term.
Additionally, the focus on this old controversy diverts attention from other issues, like the Jeffrey Epstein case. Some lawmakers say Gabbard’s actions threaten the independence of U.S. intelligence services.
In addition, senator Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the administration. He said, “They will declassify everything except the Epstein files.” Warner warned that political intelligence is under fire and that Gabbard’s approach could discourage allies from sharing sensitive information.
Conversely, republicans back Gabbard. Representative Rick Crawford praised her and Director Ratcliffe for restoring trust in intelligence. He said they work to put the community “on the right path.”
Meanwhile, representative Jim Himes, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, dismissed Gabbard’s claims. He pointed to numerous investigations confirming Russia’s efforts to support Trump.
Himes noted, “the Director’s view sharply contrasts with findings from bipartisan reports, including the Senate Intelligence Committee’s.”
Overall, this controversy clearly illustrates how political intelligence is under fire, highlighting the challenges in maintaining trust and independence in the intelligence community.
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