Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, has initiated forceful measures against the unauthorized release of classified information by referring two intelligence officials to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for investigation. The referrals come in the wake of allegations that these officials leaked sensitive data to major news outlets, with a third referral on the horizon.
Gabbard, addressing the issue, emphasized the dangers such leaks pose to national security, stating, "Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end." She vowed to ensure that those responsible would be "found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
The DNI labeled the culprits as "deep state criminals," accusing them of leaking classified information for politically motivated reasons to derail President Trump's agenda. She expressed her intention to collaborate with the DOJ and the FBI to "investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals."
This aggressive stance is part of a larger Trump administration initiative to combat unauthorized disclosures. Gabbard, last month, set up a task force specifically to identify and halt intelligence leaks. She mentioned an ongoing investigation into a leak concerning Israel and Iran to the Washington Post.
Following an internal review, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence completed the criminal referral to the Justice Department, expected to instruct the FBI to commence formal criminal probes. An office source informed Fox News of their intent to "aggressively investigate other leaks" and pursue further criminal referrals as necessary.
Concurrently, the Department of Defense is conducting its investigation into potential leaks, intensified by recent discoveries involving Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials in a Signal chat with Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. The Pentagon's inquiries have already led to significant staff changes.
Last week, several top defense officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, Hegseth's advisor Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll, Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg's chief of staff, were dismissed from their positions. Caldwell and Selnick were reportedly escorted from the premises, releasing a joint statement expressing their disappointment and condemning "baseless attacks" on their character.
In a Tucker Carlson interview, Caldwell refuted the allegations, suggesting the investigation was "weaponized" against him due to his opposition to Pentagon orthodoxy and implied that internal disputes contributed to his dismissal. He also hinted at a bipartisan inclination for conflict with Iran.
Selnick and Carroll are reportedly considering legal action for wrongful termination. Meanwhile, Hegseth has remained steadfast in his stance, suggesting that the findings of the investigation are unlikely to favor the dismissed individuals due to the incriminating evidence uncovered. The crackdown also scrutinizes Hegseth himself, who reportedly shared details of a US foreign military attack in a Signal group chat. The White House and Hegseth have not denied these allegations but have stressed that no classified information was disclosed.