Last spring, the National Security Agency (NSA) intercepted a telephone conversation. The phone call, according to subsequent disclosures, featured two foreign intelligence operatives discussing someone in Donald Trump’s inner circle. The contents of that dialogue, says whistleblower attorney Andrew Bakaj, later became the core of a bombshell intelligence document.
The highly sensitive communication was sent to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. But instead of following standard procedure – which calls for NSA analysts to push such information further up the chain – Gabbard took a different tack, according to Bakaj. She personally handed a paper copy of the material to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The day after that meeting, Gabbard asked the NSA to hold off on releasing an official intelligence report. Instead, Bakaj says, she ordered that the materials, bearing strict classification seals, be transferred directly to her office.
The allegations originated with a whistleblower who contacted the Inspector General’s office on April 17. The whistleblower claimed the intelligence chief had blocked the dissemination of highly sensitive information obtained from the intercept. Then, on May 21, Bakaj says, the same whistleblower lodged a formal complaint against the Director of National Intelligence.
Earlier reports indicated the intercepted conversation involved one person tied to a foreign intelligence agency and another close to Trump. But the attorney later said he misspoke, adding further confusion to the narrative.