Senator Lindsey Graham has expressed strong concerns over the leak of an intelligence report concerning U.S. military strikes in Iran. Speaking on Fox News, he hinted that the leak might have come from a member of Congress, particularly someone on the intelligence committees, given their access to classified information. Graham dismissed any notion that he could be involved, stating sarcastically, “We can rule me out as a leaker.”
During the interview with Jesse Watters, Graham explained that certain congressional committees receive initial intelligence assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency. He believes the leaked report, which questioned the success of the military operation, was politically motivated and aimed at undermining former President Donald Trump.
Graham made it clear that he sees the leak as a serious breach, regardless of the leaker’s title. He argued that if a member of Congress leaked the classified information, they should face jail time. “You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure this out,” he said, pointing to a likely political motive.
Not everyone agrees on the source of the leak. Some individuals close to Trump have pointed fingers at Tulsi Gabbard, the current Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard, who was formerly a Democratic congresswoman and a 2020 presidential candidate, is now reportedly under scrutiny as Trump searches for someone to blame.
Trump’s reaction to media reports from CNN and The New York Times has been notably intense. The articles claimed that a dozen massive bombs dropped on Iran failed to halt its nuclear program, which contradicts Trump’s narrative of a successful mission, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer. As a result, Trump has scaled back military briefings to Congress.
Reports indicate that Gabbard was sidelined before a key congressional briefing on the mission’s results. Although she was originally scheduled to appear alongside top officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, she was excluded at the last minute, fueling speculation.
Author and Trump biographer Michael Wolff commented that blaming Gabbard fits a common pattern in Trump’s circle: find someone to blame. However, a White House insider pushed back, suggesting the media may be exaggerating Gabbard’s involvement in the controversy.
