Tulsi Gabbard Challenges Former Inspector General Michael Atkinson

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has referred a former intelligence community watchdog and a whistleblower to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. The referrals focus on the actions of these individuals during the 2019 whistleblower complaint process that led to the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.

The targets of the referrals include former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson and a whistleblower whose identity has not been formally disclosed. A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) confirmed on April 15, 2026, that the criminal referrals were sent to the Justice Department regarding the role of these former employees in the 2019 impeachment proceedings.

The referrals were drafted by the ODNI general counsel and reference possible criminal activity specifically related to the briefings and discussions Atkinson held with the House Intelligence Committee in 2019.

Allegations of Procedural Failures

The criminal referrals followed the release of a trove of declassified documents by Gabbard between April 13 and April 15, 2026. Gabbard stated that these documents exposed a conspiracy used by Congress to impeach President Trump.

According to the ODNI, the released documents indicate that Michael Atkinson did not follow proper policy and procedure before forwarding the whistleblower complaint to Congress. The documents further suggest that Atkinson ignored evidence indicating the whistleblower held a bias against President Trump.

The released materials include interview notes with the whistleblower and transcripts of Atkinson’s closed-door testimony before the House Intelligence Committee. The ODNI noted that these transcripts had previously been withheld from the House lawmakers who were managing the impeachment inquiry.

Context of the 2019 Whistleblower Complaint

The 2019 complaint centered on a July 2019 phone conversation between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The whistleblower reported an urgent concern that the president was using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. Election.

The whistleblower specifically alleged that President Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate one of his main domestic political rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden. The complaint also raised concerns regarding the handling of records of the Trump-Zelenskyy call and the influence of Rudy Giuliani, then the president’s personal attorney, on the relationship between the United States and Ukraine.

Following the complaint, the House of Representatives impeached President Trump in late 2019. He was subsequently acquitted in a Senate vote in early 2020, a decision that largely followed party lines. President Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the phone call with President Zelenskyy as perfect.

Background on Michael Atkinson

Michael Atkinson served as the inspector general of the intelligence community from 2018 to 2020. Prior to this role, he spent 15 years working at the Justice Department.

At the time of the 2019 inquiry, Atkinson’s professional reputation as a straight shooter led several lawmakers to treat the whistleblower’s complaint with seriousness, even those who were initially skeptical of the allegations.

The current referrals also target the whistleblower, who reportedly contacted Democratic lawmakers regarding the Trump-Zelenskyy phone call before formally filing the complaint.

Current Status and Next Steps

The decision of whether to initiate a formal criminal investigation based on these referrals now rests with prosecutors at the Justice Department. A spokesperson for Gabbard’s office has not provided specific details regarding the exact crimes alleged in the referrals.