Tulsi Gabbard: Criminal Referral and Scrutiny of the Trump Impeachment

Tulsi Gabbard Submits Criminal Referral in Trump Impeachment Case

Former Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has reportedly submitted at least one criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking investigations into a whistleblower complaint and its handling by the intelligence community watchdog. This complaint played a pivotal role in the 2019 impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, according to a spokesperson for Gabbard’s office confirmed Wednesday.

Documents Released Alleging a ‘Conspiracy’

To support the referral, Gabbard this week released documents she claims expose a “conspiracy used by Congress to impeach President Trump.” These documents, according to Gabbard’s office, demonstrate that then-Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) Michael Atkinson allegedly did not adhere to established policy when handling the initial whistleblower complaint.

The released materials include transcripts of Atkinson’s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in 2019, as well as notes taken during interviews with the whistleblower. CNN has reached out to Atkinson for comment. The initial reporting on the referral was first published by Fox News.

Background on Michael Atkinson and His Dismissal

Michael Atkinson served 15 years at the Justice Department before becoming the ICIG from 2018 to 2020. He was known for his integrity, which led some lawmakers skeptical of the whistleblower complaint to take it seriously, as previously reported by CNN. President Trump fired Atkinson in April 2020, sparking concerns about potential interference in the work of independent oversight bodies.

Gabbard’s Focus on Alleged Political Motivations

Throughout her time in office, Gabbard has consistently pushed back against claims of Russian interference in the 2016 US election, echoing political narratives promoted by President Trump. She has argued that Trump was the victim of false allegations linking his campaign to Russia.

In recent months, Gabbard, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe, has released documents aimed at discrediting the 2017 intelligence assessment that concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election and attempted to aid Trump’s candidacy. Ratcliffe also made a criminal referral targeting John Brennan, the former CIA director.

DOJ Confirmation and Gabbard’s Statement

An ODNI spokesperson confirmed the criminal referral to the DOJ, stating it “related to one or more former employees of the intelligence community and their role in the 2019 impeachment of President Trump.”

Speaking on News Nation, Gabbard stated, “I’m leaving it up to the lawyers and the Department of Justice to take a look at this and to determine the specific legal parameters. But it was important for us to refer this along with all of the information that we have, so that the Department of Justice can do exactly that and investigate it.”

Criticism and Concerns About Whistleblower Protection

Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, strongly criticized Gabbard’s actions. He stated, “This apparent criminal referral will amount to nothing because no misconduct occurred, but what it will do is chill future whistleblowers from coming forward to Congress with confidence that the law will protect them. I suspect that is precisely the point.”

Gabbard Faces Own Whistleblower Complaint

Interestingly, Gabbard herself has been the subject of a whistleblower complaint. The current ICIG notified Congress last year about a complaint alleging that a highly classified intelligence report had been “restricted for political purposes.” Gabbard has denied these claims.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Aleena Fayaz of CNN contributed to this report.