Gabbard Claims Broad Statutory Authority to Justify Presence at Domestic Law Enforcement Raid

DNI Tulsi Gabbard sent a letter to Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner and House Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes defending her presence at the FBI raid on the Fulton County Elections Hub. Gabbard claimed her presence was 'requested by the President and executed under my broad statutory authority to coordinate, integrate, and analyze intelligence related to election security, including counterintelligence, foreign and other malign influence, and cybersecurity.' She stated that ODNI's Office of General Counsel 'has found my actions to be consistent and well within my statutory authority as the Director of National Intelligence.' Gabbard acknowledged she had arranged a phone call between FBI personnel and President Trump after the raid. She cited the National Security Act of 1947, claiming it does not require congressional approval before initiating intelligence activities. Warner's office responded that the letter 'raises more questions than it answers.' National security experts questioned what foreign intelligence nexus would justify ODNI involvement in a domestic FBI search warrant execution. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) had earlier described Gabbard as 'bizarrely and personally lurking in an FBI evidence truck.'

"my broad statutory authority to coordinate, integrate, and analyze intelligence related to election security" — Gabbard's letter to Congress defending her presence at FBI domestic law enforcement raid