White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the role of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in election security efforts, arguing that her actions are not only appropriate but explicitly required under federal law.
Leavitt pushed back against criticism of Gabbard’s involvement, saying the media has ignored the legal framework governing election-related counterintelligence.
She said federal statute clearly places responsibility for election security oversight within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
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“What I do have evidence of, and what the media seems to be undermining, is why Tulsi Gabbard is there in the first place,” Leavitt said.
“I would point you again, to federal law that clearly assigns the DNI and the office with the statutory responsibility to lead counter Intel matters related to election security.”
Leavitt explained that the scope of the DNI’s responsibilities extends well beyond high-level analysis and includes direct assessment of vulnerabilities in election infrastructure.
“This includes assessing risks to election voting systems, software, voter registration, databases and more and analyzing foreign interference,” she said.
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According to Leavitt, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is also tasked with coordinating election security efforts across multiple federal agencies.
“And the ODNI is responsible for supporting the White House interagency action to secure our elections through Intel analysis and vulnerability assessments,” she said.
“And they should be routinely, routinely collaborating with agencies like the DHS, the DOJ and the FBI.”
Leavitt noted that specific operational questions regarding Gabbard’s activities should be directed to the intelligence community itself.
“So as for that question, it would be better suited to ask the director of national intelligence herself in her office,” she said.
She emphasized, however, that Gabbard’s work in Georgia aligns directly with her statutory duties.
“But what I’m telling you is that it is more than appropriate,” Leavitt said.
“In fact, it is Tulsi Gabbard’s job to ensure that our elections are safe and secure, and that’s exactly what she’s been doing on the ground in Georgia.”
Leavitt concluded by questioning why anyone would oppose those efforts, particularly given the stakes involved.
“And I don’t understand why anyone in this room, considering you’re all American citizens, I believe and like to vote in our nation’s elections, should have any problem with that whatsoever,” she said.
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