Norms Impact
Tulsi Gabbard Is Pushing Debunked Russian Propaganda to Help Trump
A sitting intelligence chief used the White House podium to circulate debunked Russian-spy claims, collapsing the norm that official briefings must disclose known investigative refutations.
Jul 24, 2025
Sources
Summary
The national intelligence director repeated Russian-spy claims about Hillary Clinton’s health and temperament at a White House press briefing, despite FBI analysis finding the underlying Russian intelligence was “objectively false.” A senior executive-branch intelligence role was used to elevate foreign intelligence assertions while omitting prior U.S. investigative debunking and substituting a selectively framed House committee report. The practical consequence is a weakened public baseline for evidence in national-security claims, making it easier to launder disinformation through official channels.
Reality Check
When the nation’s top intelligence voice relays debunked foreign-intelligence claims from the White House, we normalize disinformation as state speech and erode the evidentiary floor our rights depend on in elections, oversight, and national security. Based on the described conduct—publicly repeating claims already found “objectively false” while omitting that finding—this looks less like a clear-cut federal crime than an abuse of office that weaponizes institutional authority; the core damage is to truthful governance, not merely partisan rhetoric. The peril is precedent: once official platforms can selectively cite intelligence while hiding prior FBI debunking, every future “intelligence-based” allegation becomes easier to launder, and harder for citizens to challenge.
Media
Detail
<p>At a White House press briefing Wednesday, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard cited Russian intelligence claims that Moscow had evidence of Hillary Clinton’s “psycho-emotional problems” and alleged reliance on “heavy tranquilizers” while Clinton was secretary of state.</p><p>Independent journalist Marcy Wheeler noted Thursday that the same Russian intelligence materials were reviewed and debunked by the FBI in a DOJ-released investigation report from 2018 concerning Clinton’s leaked emails and related Russian intelligence reports. Portions of that DOJ report had remained classified until this month. The FBI analysis stated that much of the Russian intelligence it reviewed was “objectively false,” and the FBI never located the purported stolen documents underpinning the Russian claims; the report stated it was unclear whether such communications existed.</p><p>Gabbard instead quoted a 2020 Republican-led House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence report that drew from the Russian intelligence without acknowledging the DOJ’s findings about its falsity. She also claimed the material proved Barack Obama attempted a “coup” by alleging Russian interference in 2016, which was verified by multiple investigations, including a 2020 probe led by then-Senator Marco Rubio.</p>