A federal intelligence official has accused Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard of trying to stop a whistleblower complaint from getting to Congress, according to the official's lawyer.
The complaint was sent to the intelligence community's inspector general in May 2025. In June, the whistleblower asked for it to be shared with lawmakers. Andrew Bakaj, the lawyer for the official, says Gabbard took illegal steps to block or slow down its release.
Bakaj said that after almost eight months of what he calls obstruction, Gabbard should now give Congress the complete disclosure as required by law. He said her actions hurt the independence and fairness of the inspector general process.
"Tulsi Gabbard has been breaking the law to protect herself for almost eight months. Now it is time for her to follow the law and give Congress the full disclosure.
— Andrew Bakaj, the whistleblower's lawyer
Gabbard's office pushed back hard against the claims. Press secretary Olivia Coleman said the complaint had already gone to the intelligence committees in Congress and called it completely without merit.
Coleman added that an earlier review by the inspector general found the allegations weak and suggested the whistleblower might have political reasons. She stressed that Gabbard supports whistleblower rights even for claims that have no basis.
The White House pointed people back to Gabbard's office statement. Reports say congressional intelligence committee members only learned about the complaint in November after the whistleblower's lawyer raised the delay issue.
Important Information About the Dispute
Former intelligence officials say it's unusual for a whistleblower complaint to take months to reach Congress. Normally security concerns are fixed in days or weeks.
An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Gabbard didn't know about her duty to provide security guidance until October 2025 when a new inspector general started. They say she moved quickly once she was told.
Background and Responses
The details of the whistleblower complaint are still not public. Reports say some parts may involve attorney-client privileged information or executive privilege claims.
Main Ideas
The complaint was filed in May 2025 and asked for congressional review in June.
Lawmakers were not told until November 2025.
Gabbard's team says the complaint was shared and lacked credibility.
The whistleblower's lawyer accuses Gabbard of illegal delay.
✓ Complaint filed May 2025
✓ Congress requested access in June 2025
✓ Lawmakers notified in November 2025
✓ Gabbard office calls allegations baseless
Senator Mark Warner's office expects Gabbard to keep her confirmation hearing promises to protect whistleblowers and ensure quick access for Congress.
What This Means
The disagreement shows ongoing tension between intelligence oversight rules and how the executive branch handles sensitive whistleblower issues. Congressional access to these complaints is seen as a key part of legislative oversight.
Both sides are holding firm. The case could lead to more examination of how whistleblower protections work at the top levels of the intelligence community.
We expect her to keep her promises and follow the law in both letter and spirit.— A person who speaks for Sen. Mark Warner
How this whistleblower complaint is handled could shape future expectations for transparency and cooperation between the intelligence director and Congress as the situation continues.
