Gabbard Defends Presence At Fulton County Election Warrant Execution

Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director, defended her presence at a Fulton County elections office during an FBI search, stating President Trump requested her attendance. Gabbard asserted her authority to address election integrity, considering interference a national security threat. Trump tasked her office with ensuring election integrity and specifically directed her to observe the warrant execution. She also facilitated a call where Trump thanked the agents, but no directives were issued. The FBI executed the warrant a month after the Trump administration sued the county for voting records from the 2020 election. Democrats expressed concern over Gabbard's involvement, questioning her rationale and legal basis. Critics like Rep. Krishnamoorthi argued against her role in domestic law enforcement. Gabbard clarified National Counterintelligence and Security Center personnel accompanied her, but weren't present during the warrant's execution. She emphasized the need to determine election interference and system vulnerabilities to preserve integrity, deeming election security a national security issue. The National Security Act grants the Office of the Director of National Intelligence authority to deal with election-related intelligence, claimed Gabbard. She vowed not to share incomplete intelligence assessments on interference.