Gabbard Accuses Washington Post of Harassment

Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, has called out the Washington Post and its reporters, claiming they are “actively harassing” her, according to a post she made on X. This statement came on Thursday.

In her post, Gabbard highlighted an incident involving Washington Post reporter Ellen Nakashima. She alleged that Nakashima contacted a high-level intelligence agent using a burner phone, failed to identify herself, and misrepresented her affiliation with the Washington Post while demanding sensitive information. Gabbard stated, “The leaked classified material wasn’t sufficient for the Washington Post, so now they seem to be targeting intelligence professionals.” This, she suggested, is an effort to undermine national security.

Gabbard went on to criticize what she deemed “politically motivated surveillance,” especially in light of her past criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris. She also accused Nakashima of having stalked her family in Hawaii, implying this behavior was part of a broader political agenda.

Gabbard expressed that such actions led to a loss of trust in journalism, suggesting that the media has abandoned principles of integrity and ethics in a desperate attempt to hinder President Biden’s agenda.

In a rebuttal, Matt Murray, the executive editor of the Washington Post, supported Nakashima. He described her as a diligent and respected reporter and emphasized that reaching out to sources for clarification is a fundamental part of journalism, rather than harassment.

Murray referred to Gabbard’s accusations as an “unfounded personal attack,” indicating a misunderstanding of journalistic roles, which include the responsibility to publicly explain and critique government officials.

Additionally, Alexa Henning, Gabbard’s Deputy Chief of Staff, remarked that the Washington Post’s response did not equate to a denial of the allegations made by Gabbard.

Fox News Digital also sought comments from Nakashima regarding the accusations. In November, in a separate incident, Gabbard’s former chief of staff had implicated another Washington Post reporter, claiming he visited their home uninvited, further fueling tensions between Gabbard and the newspaper.