In a move that has ignited political controversy, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, is spearheading her own independent review into the 2020 presidential election, operating separately from the ongoing Justice Department investigation. This development comes with the explicit approval of former President Donald Trump, underscoring the persistent focus on election-related claims within certain political circles.
Parallel Investigations Raise Eyebrows
The existence of these parallel inquiries highlights how the 2020 election remains a significant priority for Trump, nearly six years after his defeat to Joe Biden. Gabbard's review, authorised under the premise of assessing election integrity, has concentrated for months on potential vulnerabilities in voting machines and the possibility of foreign interference. Officials familiar with the matter have noted that Gabbard has been providing regular briefings to Trump and senior White House advisers every few weeks, keeping them apprised of her findings.
Controversial Presence at Georgia Raid
Last week, Gabbard's involvement took a more visible turn when she appeared at an FBI raid on an election centre in Fulton County, Georgia. This action drew immediate criticism from Democrats and former intelligence officials, who questioned why the nation's top intelligence officer, whose role typically involves overseeing intelligence agencies without domestic law enforcement powers, would be present at such an event. According to administration officials, Trump personally directed Gabbard to travel to Georgia to observe the execution of the search warrant.
The raid itself was overseen by Andrew Bailey, the Deputy FBI Director, who was also dispatched to Georgia by Trump. A copy of the search warrant cited potential violations of federal laws concerning the preservation of election records and the procurement of false ballots or voter registrations. It authorised agents to seize extensive voter data from Fulton County, including all physical ballots from the 2020 election, voting machine tabulator tapes, ballot count images, and voter rolls from that year.
ODNI Review and Dissolved Taskforce
Gabbard's review is being conducted through the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which officials assert remains within her statutory authority. They cite executive orders extended by Biden in 2022 and Trump in 2025, which task the DNI with assessing foreign interference in federal elections. Initially, the review was managed by the Director's Initiatives Group (Dig), a taskforce established by Gabbard to focus on vulnerabilities in voting machines used in the 2020 election.
However, Dig was dissolved late last year after it misidentified the individual responsible for placing pipe bombs outside Democratic and Republican party headquarters before the January 6 Capitol riot. In December, the Justice Department charged a different person in connection with those incidents. Despite this setback, Gabbard has continued the ODNI review independently, even as the Justice Department proceeds with its criminal investigation.
Political Reactions and Legal Queries
The episode has prompted swift political responses. Georgia's Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Raphael Warnock and Representatives Lucy McBath and Nikema Williams, sent a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, inquiring into Gabbard's presence at the raid. They questioned whether the Trump administration is investigating a legitimate foreign intelligence nexus, which would legally require immediate congressional briefing.
In a statement, Olivia Coleman, a spokesperson for the DNI, defended the office's actions, stating, "The office knows through intelligence and public reporting that electronic voting systems have been and are vulnerable to exploitation." She added, "President Trump's directive to secure our elections was clear. DNI Gabbard has and will continue to take actions within her authorities, alongside our interagency partners, to support ensuring the integrity of our elections."
Broader Implications and Ongoing Scrutiny
This situation has elevated Gabbard's standing within the administration after she was previously sidelined from several national security decisions, such as those involving the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. However, officials note that the ODNI is not expected to gain direct access to evidence from the criminal investigation, maintaining a separation between the two probes.
Reports from outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have added layers to the story, with the latter noting that Gabbard patched Trump through on her cellphone to FBI agents after the raid. Meanwhile, Gabbard has also been involved in separate efforts promoting claims about the 2016 election, which an Obama spokesperson dismissed as "bizarre," referencing bipartisan Senate findings on Russian interference.
As these investigations unfold, the target of the criminal probe remains unclear, with spokespeople for the Justice Department and FBI not responding to requests for comment. The ongoing scrutiny reflects deep-seated political divisions and the enduring impact of the 2020 election on US politics and national security discourse.
