Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revealed on Sunday that several whistleblowers from within the U.S. intelligence community have begun to come forward following the release of internal documents and memos she claims expose a coordinated effort to undermine former President Donald Trump after the 2016 election.
Gabbard made the announcement during an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures with host Maria Bartiromo, where she described the growing momentum behind what she referred to as a “coup attempt” allegedly orchestrated by members of the Obama administration in response to Trump’s surprise victory over Hillary Clinton.
“We have whistleblowers… coming forward now, after we released these documents, because there are people who were around, who were working within the intelligence community, who are so disgusted by what happened,” Gabbard stated. “They, like you and I and the American people, want to see justice delivered.”
The comments come just two days after Gabbard publicly released a series of intelligence memos and communications, which she claims point to a systematic effort by top government officials to fabricate links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government—allegations that fueled the years-long investigation commonly referred to as “Russiagate.”
According to Gabbard, these materials will now be turned over to the Department of Justice as part of what she says is a renewed push for transparency and accountability.
“We’re going to provide everything that we have—everything that we will continue to gather—to the Department of Justice for that direct intent and that direct purpose,” she added.
A Call for Accountability
Gabbard went on to argue that the actions allegedly taken against Trump constituted a “treasonous conspiracy” and should be met with criminal prosecution, regardless of the political stature or position of those involved.
“There must be indictments. Those responsible—no matter how powerful they are or were at that time—no matter who was involved in creating this conspiracy against the American people, they all must be held accountable,” she emphasized.
While Gabbard stopped short of naming all those who could potentially face legal action, her language was unmistakably pointed toward former President Barack Obama and members of his administration, who have long been accused by Trump and his allies of using the intelligence community to discredit the incoming president in 2016.
Durham Probe Echoes Resurface
The renewed scrutiny over Russiagate has brought back attention to Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation, which concluded in 2023 with limited legal consequences but raised concerns about FBI conduct and the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
Durham’s highest-profile conviction came from former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, who pleaded guilty to altering an email used in the surveillance warrant application against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The case was seen by Trump’s supporters as proof that misconduct occurred within the federal government, though critics of the Durham probe argued that it failed to produce significant evidence of a broader conspiracy.
A Divisive Legacy
The fallout from the original Russia investigation continues to divide public opinion, with supporters of Trump asserting he was the target of a political smear campaign, while others maintain that concerns about Russian interference were valid and properly investigated.
For her part, Gabbard—who once served as a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and ran for president in 2020—has become an increasingly outspoken critic of the intelligence establishment and the Democratic Party. Her appointment as Director of National Intelligence under President Trump marked a dramatic shift in her political trajectory.
Her recent statements appear to signal that the Trump administration, now in its second term, is preparing to re-litigate the events of 2016 and 2017, not just in public discourse, but potentially in the courts.
As the 2026 midterm elections draw closer, and with growing attention on whistleblowers from across government agencies, the political stakes around the legacy of Russiagate are once again on the rise.
