FBI Initiates Criminal Investigation Targeting Senate Democrats, Posing Challenge for Schumer

Washington, D.C. - May 14, 2026

FBI Begins Criminal Investigation into Potential Leaks of Classified Information by Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats

The FBI has started a criminal investigation into potential leaks of classified information involving Democratic members or staff on the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to sources familiar with the situation. The investigation reportedly stems from a criminal referral submitted by the National Security Agency regarding the disclosure of information from a classified overseas intercept.

The referral concerned media coverage published during the confirmation process for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. A report in The New York Times mentioned an intercepted conversation between two Hezbollah figures discussing Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria. Some interpreted a reference to “the big guy” in the intercept as suggesting Gabbard had met with a senior Hezbollah leader. Gabbard strongly denied this claim.

Sources stated that the NSA later concluded that while the published information accurately referenced material from one of its intercepts, Gabbard had not actually met with Hezbollah leadership. Investigators reportedly identified potential leakers among Democratic staff members on the Senate Intelligence Committee who had access to the intercept before details became public.

The criminal referral was submitted last summer but did not gain momentum within the Justice Department for months. FBI Director Kash Patel only became aware of the matter several weeks ago. Since then, FBI counterintelligence and criminal investigators have broadened the inquiry to examine additional potential leaks and communications with media outlets connected to Democratic committee staff.

This investigation is part of a wider Trump administration effort targeting leaks of classified information. Over the past 15 months, federal authorities have pursued several leak-related cases. These cases have included investigations involving former government officials and military personnel accused of improperly sharing sensitive information with journalists or other external parties.

The Senate Intelligence Committee has faced scrutiny over leaks in the past. In 2018, former Senate Intelligence Committee security director James Wolfe pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during an investigation into disclosures of nonpublic information to a reporter.

No charges have been announced in the current investigation, and it remains uncertain whether prosecutors will ultimately pursue criminal cases related to the reported leaks. The FBI and Justice Department have not publicly commented on the specifics of the inquiry. Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats also have not publicly addressed the allegations.

The investigation is likely to intensify ongoing political disputes in Washington concerning classified information, intelligence oversight, and the relationship between lawmakers and the press.