Overview

• On July 3, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused reporter Ellen Nakashima of using a burner phone to harass ODNI staff and demand sensitive information under false pretenses.
• Gabbard further claimed Nakashima stalked her family in Hawaii and characterized the reporting as a political operation aimed at undermining President Trump’s agenda.
• Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray defended Nakashima’s methods as standard source outreach and called Gabbard’s personal attack unfounded.
• Former Post colleague David Weigel and Reuters highlighted the absence of proof for Gabbard’s accusations and noted it is rare for a top intelligence official to single out a journalist.
• The unresolved dispute illustrates ongoing tensions over media access, leak investigations and political influence within the intelligence community.