Whistleblower Complaint Against Gabbard Revolves Around Intercepted Call About Kushner
A significant whistleblower complaint filed against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in May 2025 centers on an intercepted phone conversation involving President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to recent reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. The highly-classified complaint alleges that the National Security Agency failed to publish an intelligence report about a call intercepted by a foreign spy service between two overseas intelligence officials discussing Iran, during which a person linked to Trump was mentioned.
Allegations of Suppressed Intelligence
The complaint asserts that instead of making the intelligence widely available within the intelligence community as standard protocol dictates, Gabbard presented a paper copy to the president's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and instructed the NSA to provide further details directly to her office. This action has raised concerns about potential political interference in intelligence dissemination. The intercepted call reportedly referenced Kushner, suggesting he was the key contact for influencing future peace talks in favor of the foreign officials involved.
Details of the Intercepted Conversation
While Kushner's name was redacted in the NSA's original report due to standard masking practices, it has now been revealed that the call participants discussed Ivanka Trump's husband as a pivotal figure in Middle East peace negotiations. The whistleblower believed this invocation was significant enough to file a complaint accusing Gabbard of suppressing the information on political grounds. However, some intelligence officials have dismissed the matter as mere gossip, highlighting divisions within the intelligence world over its importance.
Political Fallout and Responses
Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Christopher Fox presented a heavily-redacted version of the complaint to the congressional Gang of Eight on a read-and-return basis, keeping details classified. Gabbard has vehemently denied the allegations, taking to social media to attack critics like Virginia Senator Mark Warner, who criticized her handling of the matter. She claimed that Warner and media outlets have spread falsehoods about her hiding the complaint for eight months, stating she only saw it two weeks before the WSJ report.
Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, defended Gabbard, stating that after reviewing the complaint, he agreed with inspectors general that it was not credible and that proper legal steps were taken. He suggested it might be an effort by critics to undermine policies they dislike.
Kushner's Role and Ethical Concerns
Kushner, a luxury real estate developer with no formal role in the second Trump administration, was involved in Middle East peace talks at the time of the call and continues to be engaged in such efforts. His numerous business interests in the region have sparked ethical concerns, particularly after he reportedly joined Trump and cabinet members in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Campaign group Citizens for Ethics has criticized his involvement, noting his lack of formal position and exemption from ethics rules despite billions in foreign investments.
The ongoing controversy underscores tensions between intelligence transparency and political maneuvering, with the whistleblower complaint highlighting potential risks in how sensitive information is managed within high-stakes diplomatic contexts.
