Democratic Lawmakers Question DNI Gabbard’s Presence at FBI Raid on Georgia Election Facility

Senior Democrats on the U.S. Senate and House intelligence committees have demanded an explanation from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard over her presence at an FBI raid on a Georgia election facility, calling the move highly unusual and potentially inappropriate. Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes said in a letter that the intelligence community should remain focused on foreign threats, not domestic law enforcement actions, warning that turning such authorities inward could endanger privacy and civil liberties. They urged Gabbard to immediately brief Congress, arguing that her involvement raises “foundational questions” about the mission of her office.

Gabbard’s office defended her role, with a spokesperson stating that the DNI has a responsibility to identify vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, including election systems that intelligence and public reporting have shown could be exploited. A senior ODNI official also said federal law assigns the DNI authority to lead counterintelligence matters related to election security. However, former officials and legal experts disputed that interpretation, saying ODNI’s mandate does not extend to domestic law enforcement operations or investigations into past elections. One former top ODNI lawyer said there was “absolutely no reason” for Gabbard to be involved in the Georgia operation.

The FBI confirmed it executed a court-authorized warrant at the Fulton County Election Hub in Union City, seeking records related to the 2020 election. The raid comes amid continued efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to revisit claims of election fraud that have been widely rejected and lack public evidence, including allegations of foreign interference in the 2020 vote. Law enforcement sources said they were unclear what role, if any, Gabbard played during the operation, with one describing the visit as a “photo op.” Lawmakers emphasized that any federal actions tied to foreign election threats must be fully disclosed to Congress and the public.

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