Tulsi Gabbard may have undermined investigation into ex-CIA director, officials say

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard may have undermined the Trump administration’s criminal investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan when she revoked the security clearances of current and former officials who could be called as potential witnesses in the case, two senior administration officials told NBC News

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard may have undermined the Trump administration’s criminal investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan when she revoked the security clearances of current and former officials who could be called as potential witnesses in the case, two senior administration officials told NBC News.

Gabbard on Aug. 19 stripped the security clearances of 37 former and current intelligence and national security officials whom she accused of manipulating or leaking intelligence or other misconduct. But her office did not properly coordinate the move with other agencies, and the Justice Department was blindsided, according to the two officials.

Axios first reported on the issue.

Some of the people targeted by Gabbard worked in the Obama administration at the same time as Brennan and could possibly be called as witnesses in the government’s probe. But now these potential witnesses have been labeled by the director of national intelligence as unreliable and traitorous, which will complicate efforts by prosecutors to build a case against Brennan, the officials and legal experts said.

“How can they be reliable witnesses now?” said one senior administration official. “It’s reasonable to assume that these people would be less inclined to cooperate with prosecutors.”