Blanche Unsure Why Gabbard Joined FBI's Atlanta Election Raid

Deputy AG says Director of National Intelligence is not part of grand jury probe but is 'expert' in election integrity.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:07pm

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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he was unsure why Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during an FBI search of an Atlanta election center on Wednesday. Blanche told CNN's Dana Bash that Gabbard is not part of the grand jury investigation, but is 'a key part of our efforts at election integrity.' Democrats have demanded Gabbard testify about her appearance at the facility.

Why it matters

Gabbard's presence at the FBI raid has raised questions about the involvement of high-level intelligence officials in local election investigations, which could raise concerns about the politicization of such probes. The search was part of a broader investigation into alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in Georgia.

The details

The FBI search was conducted pursuant to a warrant seeking 2020 election records authorized by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had previously brought racketeering charges against former President Trump and 18 others, alleging they conspired to keep Trump in office after his loss in Georgia. However, that case was dismissed last year after Willis was disqualified for having a romantic relationship with the prosecutor leading the probe.

  • The FBI search took place on Wednesday, February 1, 2026.
  • In 2023, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought racketeering charges against Trump and 18 others, which were dismissed in 2025.

The players

Todd Blanche

Deputy Attorney General who said he was unsure why Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during the FBI search.

Tulsi Gabbard

Director of National Intelligence who was present during the FBI search of an Atlanta election center, though her role is unclear.

Fani Willis

Fulton County District Attorney who previously brought racketeering charges against former President Trump and 18 others related to efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in Georgia, though the case was later dismissed.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know why the director was there. She is not part of the grand jury investigation, but she is for sure a key part of our efforts at election integrity and making sure that we have free and fair elections.”

— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General (CNN's 'State of the Union')

“She's an expert in that space, and it's a big part of what she and her team look at every day.”

— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General (CNN's 'State of the Union')

What’s next

Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence committees have demanded that Tulsi Gabbard testify about her presence at the Atlanta election center during the FBI raid.

The takeaway

Gabbard's involvement in the FBI's search of an Atlanta election facility has raised concerns about the potential politicization of election-related investigations, as high-level intelligence officials are seen participating in local probes. The case highlights the ongoing tensions around the integrity of the 2020 election results in Georgia.