The FBI has launched an investigation into possible leaks of classified information tied to Democrats or staff members on the Senate Intelligence Committee, following a criminal referral from the National Security Agency, according to sources cited by Just the News.
The referral reportedly stemmed from a leaked NSA overseas intercept referenced in media reports during Tulsi Gabbard’s 2025 confirmation process. A report published by The New York Times cited intercepted communications between two Hezbollah figures discussing Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria and referring to a meeting with the “big guy.” The article suggested some intelligence officials interpreted the phrase as a reference to a senior Hezbollah leader, an allegation Gabbard strongly denied.
Sources told the outlet the NSA later determined the leaked reporting did contain accurate details from one of its classified intercepts, but concluded Gabbard had not met with Hezbollah leadership. Investigators reportedly narrowed attention to Democrat staffers on the Senate Intelligence Committee who had access to the intercept before the report became public.
The referral allegedly sat inside the Justice Department for months without senior leadership action until Kash Patel was made aware of it several weeks ago. Since then, FBI counterintelligence and criminal investigators have expanded the probe to examine additional possible leaks and communications between committee staff and members of the media.
