By Trendsetter Tribune 
The high-stakes conflict between Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and a secret whistleblower reached a fever pitch on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. After eight months of the complaint being “locked in a safe,” the whistleblower’s legal team has issued a final ultimatum: provide full security clearance for direct testimony by Friday, February 6, or they will approach Congress independently.
The “Grave Damage” Complaint
The existence of the complaint was first revealed on Monday, February 2, following a series of investigative reports. The document is so sensitive that it has reportedly been kept in a specialized safe due to fears its disclosure could cause “grave damage to national security.”
- The Allegations: While heavily redacted, the complaint reportedly accuses Gabbard of “withholding classified information for political purposes” and failing to report a potential crime to the Department of Justice.
- The “Gang of Eight”: In a rare move, the Intelligence Community Inspector General, Christopher Fox, began hand-delivering copies of the top-secret document to the “Gang of Eight”—the top leaders of both parties in the House and Senate—this week.
- The Verdict (So Far): Gabbard’s office and some Republican lawmakers, including House Intelligence Chair Rick Crawford, emphasized that the IG’s office originally deemed the allegations “not credible.” However, the whistleblower is using their legal right to bypass the DNI and speak directly to lawmakers.
Friday Deadline: A Test of Oversight
Andrew Bakaj, the attorney for the whistleblower (who also represented the official whose disclosure led to President Trump’s first impeachment), has set Friday as the day of reckoning.
- The Standoff: Bakaj argues that ODNI has “stonewalled and thwarted” the release of the complaint because Gabbard is its primary subject.
- The Friday Ultimatum: If the office does not provide the “security guidance” necessary for his client to contact congressional committees legally by Friday, Bakaj stated he will move forward with the referral himself.
- The DNI Defense: Gabbard’s Press Secretary, Olivia Coleman, rejected claims of obstruction, citing the “unprecedented complexity” of the classification and the October 2025 government shutdown as reasons for the eight-month delay.
Timeline of the Gabbard Whistleblower Case
| Date | Event |
| May 21, 2025 | Initial complaint filed with the IC Inspector General. |
| June 2025 | IG Tamara Johnson deems allegations “not credible” but “urgent.” |
| Oct 1, 2025 | Government shutdown begins, delaying further review. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Media reports reveal the complaint’s existence. |
| Feb 3, 2026 | IG hand-delivers complaint to Gang of Eight leaders. |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Whistleblower Deadline for ODNI response. |
Political Fallout in the Senate
Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner slammed the delay on Tuesday, stating it was “in direct contradiction” to Gabbard’s confirmation testimony. He warned that the DNI’s actions are “eroding longstanding barriers” between intelligence and politics. President Trump, meanwhile, has publicly backed Gabbard, reposting headlines on Truth Social that highlight the IG’s finding that the complaint was not credible.
Whistleblower puts Tulsi on notice that he will go to Congress himself if her office doesn’t respond by Friday.
— Angry (@angrystaffer.bsky.social) February 4, 2026 at 10:09 AM
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