Gabbard Makes Criminal Referrals Linked To First Trump Impeachment

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has issued criminal referrals to the Department of Justice tied to the whistleblower complaint that sparked the first impeachment of President Donald J. Trump—a dramatic development that could reopen scrutiny of how the 2019 proceedings were initiated.

According to reports, the referrals include former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who played a central role in notifying Congress about the allegations at the time. The agency’s general counsel wrote that the referral concerns “information that may constitute possible criminal activity in violation of federal criminal law committed by one or more former employees of the intelligence community.”

The move follows the release of newly declassified materials by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Officials say the records shed light on what they describe as internal coordination within elements of the intelligence community during the impeachment saga.

“Newly-declassified records expose how deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative,” Gabbard said in a public statement.

The original complaint centered on President Trump’s July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which ultimately led to impeachment proceedings during the 116th Congress. At the time, Democrats argued the call constituted an improper quid pro quo, while the president and his allies maintained it was a legitimate discussion consistent with U.S. policy.

Transcripts included in the newly released materials show Atkinson defending his decision to elevate the complaint to Congress. “I determined that the complaint related to an urgent concern,” he testified, noting that his conclusion was based on the information available at the time.

Atkinson also acknowledged key limitations in the complaint, including that the whistleblower lacked firsthand knowledge. “I was not a direct witness to most of the events described,” the complaint itself stated, relying instead on secondhand accounts from officials considered credible.

He further testified that the whistleblower may have demonstrated political bias but said existing law did not permit dismissal of the complaint on that basis alone.

The controversy also revived questions about contact between the whistleblower and congressional Democrats, particularly then–House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff. Schiff confirmed that communication occurred but insisted it did not influence how the complaint was handled.

Meanwhile, remarks from former Vice President Joe Biden have also resurfaced in connection with the broader Ukraine debate. Reflecting on U.S. policy at the time, Biden recalled pressing Ukrainian officials to remove a prosecutor. “I said, ‘You’re not getting the billion,’” he said, adding that the prosecutor was ultimately dismissed.

At present, the Justice Department has not publicly indicated whether it will act on the referrals or open a formal investigation.

Still, the development marks a significant escalation, as new disclosures and legal scrutiny threaten to reshape public understanding of one of the most consequential political battles in recent history—raising fresh questions about accountability, transparency, and the role of the intelligence community in American governance.