The director of national intelligence may be using the Jeffrey Epstein fiasco to repair her relationship with the president, according to a new report.
Politico reported Wednesday, citing sources close to the White House, that Tulsi Gabbard is rewriting the history of the 2016 election and threatening to arrest former President Barack Obama because she thinks it will help her image within the White House.
“She knew this would be catnip for him and the timing with the Epstein stuff makes it all the more useful for the president," said a Trump ally who spoke to Politico anonymously.
President Donald Trump and Gabbard have had a rocky relationship over the last few months. For example, Trump publicly criticized the intelligence agency's conclusions about Iran's nuclear program, which he used as a pretext for the strike on three of the country's nuclear facilities.
The comments also represent a dangerous turn in the intelligence community's history, according to Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). Warner told the outlet that Gabbard's comments reflect her "audience of one" with Trump.
"The desperate and irresponsible release of the partisan House intelligence report puts at risk some of the most sensitive sources and methods our Intelligence Community uses to spy on Russia and keep Americans safe," Warner told Politico. "And in doing so, Director Gabbard is sending a chilling message to our allies and assets around the world: the United States can no longer be trusted to protect the intelligence you share with us.”