DNI Tulsi Gabbard refers two alleged leakers to DOJ for prosecution with 3rd on its way

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has made Justice Department referrals against two individuals whom she’s accused of leaking classified material to the press, as the Trump administration pursues a crackdown across agencies.Gabbard, 44, alleged that one of the individuals handed classified material to the Washington Post and the other gave sensitive information to the New York Times.“A third criminal referral is on its way,” Gabbard said in an announcement Wednesday, accusing the third alleged leaker of illegally sending material to the Washington Post.

Specific material that had been leaked is still unclear, but the move is widely seen as a warning against other potential leakers from handing classified material to the media.Top brass in the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security have similarly opened internal probes into leaking, with some officials musing about using polygraph detectors to identify leakers.

“Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end,” Gabbard said in a statement.“Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.“I look forward to working with the Justice Department and FBI to investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals.”Gabbard accused the alleged leakers of seeking to undermine President Trump’s agenda.

Ultimately, the DOJ would have to decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges against the alleged leakers.The DNI chief convened a task force — the Director’s Initiative Group — earlier this month to examine ways to boost transparency within the intelligence community.

Part of its mission is to go after unauthorized leaking of classified information.Last month, Gabbard faced scrutiny from lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees over the leaked Signal group chat to which she had been included.

The Signal chat had been formed by na...