The Washington Post fired back at Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Thursday following her attack on one of its reporters, whom the nation’s top intelligence and security official accused of harassment and stalking.
Gabbard said earlier Thursday that Ellen Nakashima, a national security reporter for the newspaper, had called staff of hers using a “burner phone,” that she refused to identify herself, and lied about her affiliation with the Post. Former colleagues of Nakashima quickly called into doubt Gabbard’s claims, noting she failed to provide any evidence.
The dust-up forced the Post's executive editor to jump into the fray to defend their reporter, calling Gabbard’s claims “unfounded.”
“Gabbard’s unfounded personal attack reflects a fundamental misunderstanding about the role of journalists to report on government officials and hold power to account, without fear or favor and regardless of party,” Matt Murray said in a statement. “The Post remains committed to that vital and constitutionally protected work.”
Nakashima has extensively covered Gabbard’s tenure as national intelligence director, including a recent story she co-authored about Gabbard’s potentially illegal interference in the Intelligence Community Inspector General’s office, the research for which is likely what motivated Gabbard’s condemnation of her.
While Gabbard also went on to characterize Nakashima’s reporting as an attempt to “sabotage” President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, Murray stood firm behind their staffer’s work and moral character, and chalked up Gabbard’s frustrations to a misunderstanding of journalism.
“For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security,” Murray said. “Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press statements regarding matters of public interest is neither nefarious nor is it harassment. It is basic journalism.”