DNI Tulsi Gabbard sends criminal referral over Trump’s 2019 impeachment to Justice Department
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sent at least one criminal referral to the Justice Department seeking investigations into the handling of a whistleblower complaint that led to President Donald Trump's 2019 impeachment.
- Gabbard released documents alleging that former intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson did not follow proper procedures in managing the whistleblower complaint.
- The referral and documents aim to support claims of a "conspiracy" used by Congress to impeach Trump, with Gabbard leaving legal determinations to the Justice Department.
- Critics, including Rep. Jim Himes, argue the referral is baseless and could discourage future whistleblowers from coming forward.
- Gabbard herself has faced a whistleblower complaint alleging political restrictions on a classified intelligence report, which she denies.
