The FBI has opened an investigation into possible leaks of classified information linked to Democratic members or staff on the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to reports citing sources familiar with the matter.
The probe reportedly stems in part from a criminal referral submitted by the National Security Agency concerning the disclosure of information from a classified overseas intercept. The referral was connected to media coverage published during the confirmation process for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
According to reports, the reporting referenced an intercepted conversation involving two Hezbollah figures discussing Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria. A New York Times report stated that some interpreted a reference to “the big guy” in the intercept as suggesting Gabbard had met with a senior Hezbollah leader. Gabbard strongly denied that claim.
Sources said the NSA later concluded that while the published information did accurately reference material from one of its intercepts, Gabbard had not actually met with Hezbollah leadership.
Investigators reportedly identified possible leakers among Democratic staff members on the Senate Intelligence Committee who had access to the intercept before details appeared publicly.
The criminal referral was reportedly submitted last summer but did not gain significant traction inside the Justice Department for months. According to the report, FBI Director Kash Patel only became aware of the matter several weeks ago.
Since then, FBI counterintelligence and criminal investigators have reportedly expanded the inquiry to examine additional possible leaks and communications with media outlets connected to Democratic committee staff.
The investigation is part of a broader Trump administration effort targeting leaks of classified information. Over the past 15 months, several leak-related cases have been pursued by federal authorities involving former government officials and military personnel accused of improperly sharing sensitive information.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has faced scrutiny over leaks in the past. In 2018, former Senate Intelligence Committee security director James Wolfe pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during an investigation into disclosures of nonpublic information to a reporter.
No charges have been announced in the current investigation, and it remains unclear whether prosecutors will ultimately pursue criminal cases connected to the reported leaks.
The FBI and Justice Department have not publicly commented on the specifics of the inquiry. Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats also have not publicly addressed the allegations.
The investigation is likely to intensify ongoing political disputes in Washington surrounding classified information, intelligence oversight, and the relationship between lawmakers and the press. The outcome of the probe could have implications for how Congress handles sensitive intelligence and interacts with the media.
