WASHINGTON – President Trump asserted on Thursday that Democrats in Congress were behind the leak of a preliminary Pentagon intelligence report that assessed the effects of recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Democrats are those leaking information about a full operation targeting Iranian nuclear sites. They should face prosecution!” Trump wrote, referencing his post on Truth Social.
Details about whether Trump has proof regarding the source of the leak remain unclear. The report was prepared shortly after the strikes indicated that Iran’s nuclear development was in its early stages, as the FBI investigates the recent leak of a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt remarked shortly before Trump’s claim that Congressional Democrats might indeed be implicated. However, she noted there wasn’t concrete evidence nor any decisive conclusions yet.
“It could have been someone from the intelligence community or from Capitol Hill who had access to this document. The FBI is searching for that individual,” Leavitt told reporters.
“We’ve seen this kind of thing before, where individuals in the intelligence community or on Capitol Hill are involved, even if they’re not fully aware. The FBI is trying to identify the source of the leak as it is illegal and accountability is needed,” she added.
Stay informed with the latest updates on the airstrikes related to Iran
Democrats have expressed frustration over the lack of information regarding Trump’s controversial strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites located in Fordaw, Isfahan, and Natanz.
CNN’s Natasha Bertrand initially reported on the preliminary DIA assessment, with major outlets like the New York Times, ABC, CNN, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press quickly following the story.
A swift confirmation hints that some individuals often act as sources for various news outlets.
Leavitt mentioned on Thursday that very few had access to the DIA report before the leak on Tuesday, asserting that the leak aimed to diminish the significance of the airstrikes.
