Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, shared insights regarding her involvement in an election security assessment in a letter to Congress. She mentioned that President Trump had “specifically directed” her to attend the execution of a search warrant in Fulton County, Georgia, last week as part of an ongoing investigation.
In the letter addressed to Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes, both committee leaders, Gabbard responded to their prior inquiry about her presence during an FBI raid at an election office in Fulton County last month.
Back in April 2025, Gabbard indicated that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was looking into electronic voting systems to ensure election integrity. In her recent correspondence, she confirmed that Trump directed her to observe the FBI’s search of the Fulton County court clerk’s office.
She detailed, “I briefly accompanied FBI Deputy Director Bailey and the Acting Special Agent in Charge, Pete Ellis, during this search warrant execution.” Gabbard emphasized that her participation was within her legal authority to coordinate election security efforts, encompassing aspects of counterintelligence, foreign influence, and cybersecurity.
Gabbard clarified that she has oversight of the FBI’s Intelligence and Counterintelligence Division and expressed her appreciation to the FBI agents for their professionalism. She revealed that during her visit to the Atlanta field office, she facilitated a call with the President to thank the agents, though no specific directives were given during this interaction.
She noted that ODNI’s General Counsel assessed her actions as within the scope of her authority as DNI. Last week, reports emerged of FBI agents conducting searches in Fulton County, a region that has been scrutinized for possible voter fraud since the 2020 elections. The search warrant allowed the collection of election documents, voter rolls, and data linked to the 2020 election.
Gabbard addressed initial concerns raised by Warner and Himes, underscoring that election security constitutes a significant national security matter. She stated, “Interference in U.S. elections poses a national security threat.” According to her, both Trump and the Administration are committed to maintaining the integrity of elections against any influences.
She reiterated that ODNI had been actively reviewing intelligence reports related to election integrity since she took office, highlighting that personnel from the National Counterintelligence Security Center accompanied her during the efforts in Fulton County but were not present during the warrant’s execution.
Gabbard affirmed the broad authority of the DNI to analyze election security information and clarified that ODNI is the leading intelligence agency for cybersecurity initiatives concerning critical infrastructure, particularly those related to elections.
She reassured lawmakers that ODNI does not share incomplete assessments of foreign interference in elections irresponsibly and described concerns regarding vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems, suggesting the potential for manipulation.
Gabbard mentioned that she is committed to continuing the investigation into these issues, ensuring legislative oversight once intelligence assessments are finalized. She cited the National Security Act of 1947, noting that the President may initiate major intelligence activities without prior Congressional approval.
Additionally, she revealed that a Georgia court had issued a sealed search warrant for the Fulton County Clerk’s office, which limited ODNI’s ability to disclose details beforehand. Gabbard closed by sharing that Trump had praised her efforts to safeguard U.S. elections, acknowledging her hard work in maintaining electoral safety.
In a related note, the Justice Department is currently suing Fulton County for access to ballots connected to a 2020 case, although this appears separate from the recent FBI raid. Fulton County is contesting the lawsuit, arguing that the DOJ lacks valid grounds to access the records.
