Top House Intel Democrat Sends Gabbard a Warning

Rep. Jim Himes gets DNI’s attention with reminder she’ll need his help to renew controversial surveillance bill

Tulsi Gabbard had been blowing off inquiries from top House Intel Democrat Jim Himes—until he sent her a thinly veiled warning. That got her attention. (Joshua Roberts/AFP photo)

Rep. Jim Himes decided it was time to play hardball. 

For months, the Connecticut Democrat—ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee—had been firing off letters to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, demanding she explain why she was firing top officials without cause and making other provocative moves, such as releasing documents she claimed showed “treason” by Obama officials, that appeared to have no purpose other than pleasing her boss, President Trump. 

To Himes’ endless frustration, none of his letters were answered. 

So Himes tried another tack: He recently passed word to one of Gabbard’s deputies that if she wanted his “help on some things”—such as reauthorizing a hotly contested warrantless surveillance program, commonly known as Section 702 —she needed to start answering her mail.