Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents over CIA objections, sources say

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Source: NBC News

Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents over CIA objections, sources say

Some former intelligence officers said they were alarmed at the detail revealed in the declassified document about Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Aug. 6, 2025, 8:31 PM EDT / Updated Aug. 7, 2025, 9:41 AM EDT
By Dan De Luce

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard decided to declassify a document on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election last month over the objections of CIA officials who argued that more details should remain secret to protect sensitive spying sources and methods, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

The Washington Post first reported the disagreement.

Some former intelligence officers said they were alarmed at the detail revealed in the declassified document. The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, of Virginia, has warned that the move could put intelligence-gathering efforts at risk.

A CIA spokesperson said agency director John Ratcliffe strongly supported the public release of the document.

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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/tulsi-gabbard-declassified-documents-objections-cia-sources-say-rcna223548

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1. DNI Gabbard reportedly overrode CIA officials' concerns to push conspiratorial claims

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s latest claims already looked bad. New reporting on a behind-the-scenes struggle makes them look worse.

Maddow Blog | DNI Gabbard reportedly overrode CIA officials’ concerns to push conspiratorial claims www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...

— Jack (@nashtn5.bsky.social) 2025-08-07T12:56:20.648Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/dni-gabbard-reportedly-overrode-cia-officials-concerns-push-conspirato-rcna223478

It’s been nearly three weeks since Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard unveiled a report with a title that read, “Declassified Evidence of Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert President Trump’s 2016 Victory and Presidency.” In an accompanying press release, the beleaguered DNI added, “The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government.”.....

But according to new reporting from The Washington Post, the controversial intelligence director hasn’t just faced widespread pushback after making her highly dubious allegations, she also reportedly faced pushback before making her highly dubious allegations. From the Post’s article:

The Trump administration pushed to unveil a highly classified document on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election after an intense behind-the-scenes struggle over secrecy, which ended in late July when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a minimally redacted version of the report, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

The Post’s report, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, added that when the CIA and other intelligence agencies argued internally that more of the document should remain classified to obscure U.S. spy agencies’ sources and methods, Gabbard overrode them — “with the blessing of President Donald Trump.” (Update: After this piece was published, NBC News did confirm the Post's reporting.).....

Nevertheless, as the DNI’s efforts start to look even worse, Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed Justice Department prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation based on Gabbard’s claims.

NBC News spoke to a former senior Justice Department official who condemned the move as “a dangerous political stunt.” A former senior national security official pointed out that multiple past reviews, including ones conducted by Republicans, found no wrongdoing.

“There’s no logical, rational basis for this,” the official added.