IG Memo: Whistleblower Claim That DNI Tulsi Gabbard Politicized Classified Briefings Found Not Credible — Complaint Now With Gang Of Eight

WASHINGTON — A top-secret whistleblower complaint filed months ago alleging that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard withheld access to classified briefings for political reasons has been judged not credible in its central claim, according to an inspector general memo provided to lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press.

What the Memo Says

The intelligence community’s then-inspector general, Tamara Johnson, reviewed the May complaint and concluded the primary allegation — that Gabbard distributed classified information along partisan lines — did not appear credible. Current inspector general Christopher Fox, summarizing the earlier review in a memo to members of Congress, said he would likely determine the complaint did not meet the statutory definition of an "urgent concern" and therefore would not have referred it to lawmakers under his assessment.

"If the same or similar matter came before me today, I would likely determine that the allegations do not meet the statutory definition of 'urgent concern.'" — Christopher Fox, Inspector General

Second Allegation And Procedural Steps

The complaint also included a separate allegation that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) general counsel failed to report a potential crime to the Department of Justice. Fox's memo, which contains redactions, said the earlier inspector general was "unable to assess the apparent credibility" of that claim.

Federal law permits intelligence community whistleblowers to send complaints to the so-called Gang of Eight — the congressional leaders and the senior members of the House and Senate intelligence committees — even when an inspector general has rated a complaint non-credible, provided the submission raises an "urgent concern." In this case, the referral moved forward after months of review and negotiation and is being hand-delivered this week because of the complaint’s classified contents.

Reactions From Parties Involved

Gabbard’s office rejected the accusations and denied intentionally withholding the complaint from lawmakers, saying distribution was delayed by an extensive legal review required by the document’s many classified details and complications from last year’s government shutdown.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, speaks out against President Donald Trump's investigation of the 2020 presidential election ballots in Georgia, and the involvement of Trump ally Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), a member of the Gang of Eight, said he had not yet reviewed the complaint but expected to receive it after bipartisan pressure on the director. Warner criticized the delay as inconsistent with Gabbard’s confirmation testimony, in which she pledged to protect whistleblowers and provide timely information to Congress.

"The director of national intelligence does not conduct criminal investigations. She has no role in executing search warrants. And she does not belong on the scene of a domestic FBI search." — Sen. Mark Warner

Andrew Bakaj, the attorney for the complainant, said he could not discuss the report's details but argued there was no justification for keeping the complaint from Congress since last spring.

Separate Scrutiny Over FBI Search

Gabbard, who oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, drew additional scrutiny after appearing on site last week when the FBI executed a search warrant at Georgia election offices connected to former President Donald Trump’s disputed claims about the 2020 election. Gabbard said she attended at Trump’s request and defended her presence, saying she frequently coordinates with the FBI and has authority to investigate threats to election security. Critics, including Warner, said her presence blurred long-standing boundaries between intelligence work and domestic law enforcement.

The inspector general’s office confirmed that some members of Congress and their staff reviewed copies of the complaint on Monday, and IG representatives planned additional briefings for lawmakers who had not yet seen the document.

What to watch next: Lawmakers on the House and Senate intelligence committees are expected to seek further answers from Gabbard about both the handling of the whistleblower complaint and her role during the Georgia search.