Gabbard refers impeachment whistleblower to DOJ for criminal investigation.
Evidence and Verdict
For
CNN reported that Tulsi Gabbard’s office sent a criminal referral related to Trump’s 2019 impeachment matter to the Department of Justice. CNN’s April 15, 2026 item is titled to indicate Gabbard (as DNI) sent a criminal referral over the 2019 impeachment matter, which supports the claim that she referred the impeachment whistleblower for criminal investigation.
Against
Other CNN pieces (Feb. 2026) document a classified whistleblower complaint filed against DNI Tulsi Gabbard and that top lawmakers were reviewing that complaint, indicating there were parallel whistleblower actions and potential reciprocal allegations. FactCheck and BBC coverage note that Gabbard has a history of making or threatening referrals and has made misleading claims in the past, which suggests the characterization and context of any referral may be contested or politically charged.
Verdict
Primary reporting from CNN indicates Gabbard’s office did send a criminal referral to DOJ concerning the 2019 impeachment matter, supporting the claim; however, contemporaneous reporting about a whistleblower complaint against Gabbard and fact-checking about her prior claims introduce contextual complexity, so the core claim is assessed as TRUE with moderate confidence.
Sources
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics - Apr 16, 2026
She added that she could not oppose impeachment “because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing,” nor could she back it “because removal of a sitting President must not be the culminatio...
Open sourcePresidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics - Apr 16, 2026
She added that she could not oppose impeachment “because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing,” nor could she back it “because removal of a sitting President must not be the culminatio...
Open sourcePresidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics - Apr 16, 2026
Title: Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes ‘present’ on impeachment | CNN Politics
Open sourceMore questions than answers about a classified whistleblower complaint against DNI Tulsi Gabbard | CNN
More questions than answers about a classified whistleblower complaint against DNI Tulsi Gabbard | CNN - Apr 16, 2026
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Open sourceTop lawmakers review whistleblower complaint against Tulsi Gabbard - CNN
Top lawmakers review whistleblower complaint against Tulsi Gabbard - CNN - Apr 16, 2026
r. Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account. Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account. # Top lawmakers review whistleblower complaint against Tulsi Gabbard. Top lawmakers review whistleblow...
Open sourceDNI Tulsi Gabbard sends criminal referral over Trump's 2019 ... - CNN
DNI Tulsi Gabbard sends criminal referral over Trump's 2019 ... - CNN - Apr 16, 2026
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