Whistleblower Complaint Against Tulsi Gabbard Raises Concerns
In Washington, the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has issued a warning regarding a whistleblower’s lawyer. This warning stated that the lawyer could not brief Congress on the allegations made by her client without the risk of leaking classified information.
Jack Deaver, the General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), informed Andrew Bakaj that he lacked the legal grounds to file a complaint against Gabbard with the congressional intelligence committees.
Deaver expressed concerns in a letter, stating, “The sensitive nature of the underlying complaint increases the risk that you or your client may inadvertently violate the law by disclosing or mishandling confidential information.” He added, “There may be other routes to approach Congress, but this isn’t one of them.”
Furthermore, it was noted that the complaint, which was lodged in May with Acting Intelligence Community Inspector General Tamara Johnson, had been judged unreliable twice.
Deaver mentioned that the rights and protections given to whistleblowers do not apply to Bakaj himself. He stated, “[D]espite your claims, those rights do not extend to you. Whistleblowers can inform Congress of the ‘facts’ of the claims, but not the intricate details.”
Bakaj was also accused of falsely alleging wrongdoing by Gabbard. Deaver defended her by claiming she “followed the law throughout this process.”
According to Deaver, any contrary claims are unfounded and do not accurately depict the DNI’s attempts to keep Congress informed.
Johnson was a part of the Biden administration before her promotion to the top intelligence role and has since been succeeded by Christopher Fox, who “administratively closed” the complaint in June 2025.
The details of the complaint are mostly undisclosed, although a redacted version was reviewed by at least eight congressional leaders earlier this month.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) stated, “I have reviewed this ‘whistleblower’ complaint and the Inspector General’s response to it.” He aligns with the inspectors general’s assessment that the allegations lack credibility. Cotton remarked that this seems to be just another tactic by critics of the president to undermine disliked policies.
However, Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) disagreed, asserting that he considers Johnson a seasoned professional and believes the complaint should be taken seriously.
Deaver clarified that Johnson had examined two complaints, one being deemed unreliable and the other deemed not evaluable.
Initial reports suggest that the complaint alleges the National Security Agency intercepted communications involving Bakaj, a person linked to President Trump, and two foreign nationals discussing senior U.S. intelligence officials.
Warner raised concerns regarding conflicting statements from Gabbard’s attorney, emphasizing that ignorance of legal responsibilities is not acceptable for someone in her position.
Deaver denied the allegations and defended ODNI’s communication methods, explaining that the agency provided security guidance to handle such sensitive claims appropriately.
Bakaj has yet to respond to requests for comment.
