{"id":29460,"date":"2026-03-18T15:23:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/?post_type=press-releases&p=29460"},"modified":"2026-03-18T15:28:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:28:06","slug":"sen-ossoff-presses-director-of-national-intelligence-on-imminent-threat-posed-by-iran-fulton-county-raid","status":"publish","type":"press-releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/press-releases\/sen-ossoff-presses-director-of-national-intelligence-on-imminent-threat-posed-by-iran-fulton-county-raid\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Ossoff Presses Director of National Intelligence on Imminent Threat Posed by Iran, Fulton County Raid"},"content":{"rendered":"

WATCH: Sen. Ossoff\u2019s full line of questioning<\/em><\/strong>
<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington, D.C. <\/strong>\u2014 U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, a member of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, today pressed the Director of National Intelligence on conflicting reports about the \u201cimminent threat\u201d Iran posed to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, in a U.S. Senate Intelligence Hearing, Sen. Ossoff pressed Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, about her statement<\/a> that as a result of last summer\u2019s air strikes, \u201cIran\u2019s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated,\u201d and that \u201cthere has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, President Trump and the White House have seemingly contradicted those statements, saying on March 1<\/a> that the Iran war was \u201ca military campaign to eliminate the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to Director Gabbard\u2019s evasive answers, Sen. Ossoff said, \u201cNo, you’re evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director Gabbard later said, \u201cIt is not the Intelligence Community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, Sen. Ossoff pressed Director Gabbard over her role in the FBI\u2019s raid on the Fulton County Elections Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director Gabbard testified that she \u201coversaw\u201d \u201cportions of [the raid]\u201d and that President Trump asked her to go to Georgia \u201cthe day of the raid, the warrant execution commencing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Ossoff also announced that members of the Senate Intelligence Committee have opened inquiries into and asked questions about Gabbard\u2019s election-related activities and that Gabbard\u2019s General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel have already provided testimony to the Committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff\u2019s full line of questioning<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff\u2019s line of questioning below:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cI want to call everyone\u2019s attention again to this fundraising email signed by the President that Senator Kelly mentioned earlier, in which the President of the United States invites his campaign donors to \u2018claim your spot.\u2019 \u2018Claim your spot. Join now to receive private national security briefings,\u2019 to his political donors, featuring a photo of the President at a dignified transfer ceremony with a flag-draped coffin of an American servicemember killed in action, returning to their family and the American people need to know that the President of the United States is fundraising for his political campaign and his PAC using images of American servicemembers killed in action, and it’s a disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cNow, Director Gabbard, I’d like to re-ground this in your core responsibilities: under the law, you are responsible for providing national intelligence to the President, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cAnd to the heads of Executive Branch departments and agencies, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cAnd to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and senior military commanders?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cAcross the IC, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cAnd to the Senate and the House and relevant Committees, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF<\/strong>: \u201cAnd the law states that the national intelligence you provide to Congress, \u2018should be timely, objective and independent of political considerations,\u2019 correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cAnd you noted in your opening statement, you\u2019re here fulfilling a statutory responsibility, and that your testimony, \u2018represents the IC\u2019s assessment of threats,\u2019 correct?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cThat opening statement, as submitted to the Committee in advance of this hearing, stated that as a result of last summer\u2019s airstrikes, \u2018Iran\u2019s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated,\u2019 correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cThat’s right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cAnd is that, in fact, the assessment of the Intelligence Community?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cSo the assessment of the Intelligence Community is that Iran\u2019s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated by last summer’s airstrikes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cIn the opening statement you submitted to the Committee last night also stated, \u2018there has been no effort since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,\u2019 correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cThat\u2019s right\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cAnd that\u2019s the assessment of the Intelligence Community?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cThe White House stated on March 1st of this year that this war was launched and was, \u2018a military campaign to eliminate the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime.\u2019 That\u2019s a statement from the White House. \u2018The imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime.\u2019 Was it the assessment of the Intelligence Community that there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cThe Intelligence Community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to rebuild and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cWas it the assessment of the Intelligence Community that there was a, \u2018imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?\u2019 Yes or no?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cSenator, the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the President \u2013\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cFalse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201c\u2013\u2013 and he made that determination.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cThis is the worldwide threats hearing where you present to Congress national intelligence, timely, objective and independent of political considerations. You’ve stated today that the Intelligence Community’s assessment is that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, and that ‘there had been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.\u2019 Was it the Intelligence Community’s assessment that, nevertheless, despite this obliteration, there was a, \u2018imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?\u2019 Yes or no?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cIt is not the Intelligence Community\u2019s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat \u2013\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cOkay, here\u2019s the problem \u2013\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cThat is up to the President based on a volume of information that he receives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cNo, it is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States. This is the worldwide threats hearing where, as you noted in your opening testimony, \u2018you represent the IC\u2019s assessment of threats.\u2019 You are here to \u2018represent the IC\u2019s assessment of threats.\u2019 That’s a quote from your own opening statement. And so, my question is, as you’re here to present the IC\u2019s assessment of threats, was it the assessment of the Intelligence Community that, as the White House claimed on March 1st, there was a, \u2018imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime.\u2019 Yes or no?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cOnce again, Senator, the Intelligence Community has provided the inputs that make up this annual threat assessment \u2013\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cYou won\u2019t answer the question.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cIt is the nature of the imminent threat that the President has to make that determination based on a collection and volume of information intelligence that he is provided with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cYou’re here to be timely, objective, and independent of political consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cExactly what I’m doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cNo, you’re evading a question because to provide a candid response to the Committee would contradict a statement from the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>Let me ask you about your presence in Fulton County on January 28th of this year. You were present at the FBI\u2019s raid on the Fulton County elections office on January 28th, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>I was present for part of the FBI exercising a warrant approved by a municipal judge to obtain \u2013\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>Yes, and the FBI was there executing \u2013\u2013 the FBI was there executing that warrant to seize ballots and materials associated with the 2020 election, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>And are you aware that members of this Committee have already opened inquiries into your election-related activities?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>And are you aware that your General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel have already provided testimony to this committee regarding those activities?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>On February 2nd, you sent a letter to Senator Warner regarding your presence at the raid. Was that letter accurate?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cI don’t recall the exact date, but if I sent a letter that had my signature, it was accurate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>You stated in the letter that your presence at the raid was \u2018requested by the President\u2019, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>When did the President request your presence at the raid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: <\/strong>\u201cThe day of the raid, the warrant execution commencing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cThe day of the raid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cHe called you on the phone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>I’m not going to disclose how the message was delivered, but it was a request from the President and his administration to go and help oversee this warrant being executed, along with the Deputy Director of the FBI, and to thank the FBI agents who were conducting this raid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cIs it your role to oversee the execution of criminal warrants?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>It is my role, based on statute that Congress has passed, to have oversight over election security, to include counterintelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>But you said you oversaw the raid, correct? You just testified you oversaw the raid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Portions of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: \u201c<\/strong>Okay. Did you handle any ballots or election related materials?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD:<\/strong> \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cYou were inside an FBI evidence truck, correct?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>Uh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cYou were photographed inside an FBI evidence truck.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: <\/strong>\u201cIt was an empty truck, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cThe President stated, \u2018you looked at votes he wanted be checked out.\u2019 Is that accurate?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. COTTON:<\/strong> \u201cSenator\u2019s time is expired. The Senator\u2019s time is expired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cDid you look at votes as the President stated?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. COTTON: <\/strong>\u201cSenator Ossoff, your time is expired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cCan you respond for the record?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. COTTON: <\/strong>\u201cYou can have her \u2013\u2013 No, she cannot respond because \u2013\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF:<\/strong> \u201cNo, for the record. Will the Director please respond for the record to that question is my direct question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIR. GABBARD: \u201c<\/strong>I\u2019m happy to respond to questions for the record.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEN. OSSOFF: <\/strong>\u201cThank you, Director Gabbard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

# # #<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WATCH: Sen. Ossoff\u2019s full line of questioning  Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, a member of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, today pressed the Director of National Intelligence on conflicting reports about the \u201cimminent threat\u201d Iran posed to the United States. Today, in a U.S. Senate Intelligence Hearing, Sen. Ossoff pressed Director of National Intelligence, […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29460","press-releases","type-press-releases","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases\/29460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-releases"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases\/29460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29463,"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases\/29460\/revisions\/29463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}