The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats following a National Security Agency referral tied to leaked classified intelligence about Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that appeared in The New York Times during her confirmation process.

The Classified Leak Investigation

FBI Director Kash Patel launched the probe after discovering a dormant NSA criminal referral from last year. The investigation centers on whether Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats or their staff improperly disclosed classified material involving intercepted communications. The leaked intelligence reportedly contained information from a classified overseas intercept related to Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria, according to Just the News sources familiar with the matter.

The intercepted communications allegedly captured two individuals with connections to the terrorist organization discussing Gabbard’s Syria visit. They referenced her meeting with someone they called “the big guy.” The New York Times report suggested some interpreted this as evidence Gabbard had met with a top terrorist leader, a claim she firmly denied. The classified material had been accessible to Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats and their staff before appearing in the Times article.

NSA Findings and Potential Leakers

The National Security Agency concluded the leaked information accurately reflected details from one of its intercepts. However, the agency also determined Gabbard had not actually met with any leaders from the terrorist organization during her Syria trip. NSA investigators identified potential leakers among Senate Intelligence Committee Democrat staff members who had access to the classified intercept before the Times published its report. The criminal referral remained unaddressed within the Justice Department for months, with senior leadership reportedly unaware of its existence until Patel was alerted several weeks ago.

Gabbard’s Intelligence Community Actions

Since assuming her role as Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard has taken aggressive action against intelligence community misconduct. She referred multiple intelligence officials to the Department of Justice earlier this year for allegedly leaking classified information for partisan political purposes. Gabbard has also restricted intelligence sharing with Five Eyes partner nations regarding Ukraine negotiations to protect American national security interests. Additionally, she has declassified extensive documentation showing previous administration officials were aware the Russia collusion narrative lacked factual foundation from its inception.