Whistleblower Allegations Unveil NSA Intercept of Foreign Nationals Discussing Trump Associate
Washington — A whistleblower complaint has surfaced, revealing classified information regarding a National Security Agency (NSA) intercept of a conversation between two foreign nationals discussing an individual close to President Trump. This information was confirmed by a senior U.S. intelligence official and the whistleblower's attorney.
Last week, Inspector General Christopher Fox of the intelligence community shared the highly classified complaint, filed in May, with key congressional leaders. This disclosure followed a report about the complaint's existence, which had been delayed for months, prompting speculation about whether political factors influenced the oversight process concerning the nation's top intelligence official. Fox attributed the delay to various factors, including classification complexities and the 43-day government shutdown that began in October.
The complaint, which is so sensitive it has been stored securely, alleges that a classified intelligence report was restricted for political reasons. According to a letter from Fox to congressional leadership, it also claims that an intelligence agency's legal office failed to report a potential crime to the Justice Department due to political motivations.
Analysts remain uncertain whether the intercepted conversation constituted mere gossip or intentional misinformation. The details of this intercept were reportedly shared by Tulsi Gabbard with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Andrew Bakaj, representing the whistleblower, stated that Gabbard allegedly circumvented standard NSA distribution protocols by delivering a physical copy of the information to Wiles and instructing the agency to route classified details solely to her instead of through a broader report.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on this matter.
At the time the complaint was filed, acting intelligence community watchdog Tamara Johnson assessed one allegation as not credible and could not evaluate another. Fox, who succeeded Johnson and previously worked as an aide to Gabbard, indicated that the complaint was "administratively closed" in June 2025 without further investigative action, which he argued undermined claims that it represented an "urgent concern" necessitating immediate congressional notification.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and one of the lawmakers who reviewed the complaint, expressed concerns during an appearance on "Face the Nation." He noted that while the previous inspector general deemed the matter urgent, this assessment was contradicted by Fox. "The fact that this sat out there for six, seven, eight months now, and we are only seeing it now raises huge concerns in and of itself," Warner stated.
Warner mentioned that the whistleblower is awaiting legal guidance from Gabbard regarding how to proceed with the committee. He emphasized that Democrats are seeking access to both the redacted portions of the complaint and the underlying intelligence. The vice chairman of the intelligence committee remarked that he cannot form a judgment about credibility or veracity due to extensive redactions.
In contrast, Republican leaders of both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees reviewed a redacted version of the complaint and concurred with its assessment as lacking credibility. Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas described it as another attempt by critics of the president to undermine policies they oppose. Representative Rick Crawford, also from Arkansas, likened it to tactics used in previous political controversies surrounding Trump.
Gabbard vehemently denied allegations of mishandling the complaint in a detailed social media post on Saturday. She accused Warner and media outlets of misleading the public. Gabbard claimed she first encountered the complaint two weeks ago and needed time to review it before advising on secure sharing with Congress. This timeline contradicts earlier statements from Fox indicating discussions with Gabbard and ODNI's top lawyer occurred in early December.
"Senator Warner's decision to spread lies and baseless accusations over the months for political gain undermines our national security and is a disservice to the American people and the Intelligence Community," Gabbard asserted.
Warner responded during his television appearance by questioning Gabbard's qualifications for her role. "I do not believe that Director Gabbard is competent for her position," he stated. "I don't believe that she is making America safer by not following the rules and procedures on getting whistleblower complaints to Congress in a timely fashion."
A spokesperson for the intelligence community inspector general's office declined to comment on specific details within the complaint. "Due to the exceptional sensitivity of the underlying intelligence report, IC OIG can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of any such purported details," they stated.
NSA Deputy Director Tim Kosiba emphasized in a statement that safeguarding classified information is crucial, as any mishandling or leaking could significantly jeopardize national security. He noted that NSA investigates any unauthorized disclosures and collaborates closely with both the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure accountability.
"Distinct from unauthorized disclosures and working closely with NSA's Office of General Counsel, NSA ensures that whistleblowing is protected by Federal laws, policies, and procedures," Kosiba added.
