Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is preparing to take legal action against CNN, accusing the network of planning a politically motivated smear campaign that falsely suggests she committed voter fraud. Gabbard’s legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter to CNN on April 4, warning the network not to move forward with what they described as a defamatory and reckless report.
At the center of the controversy is Gabbard’s 2024 purchase of a home in Texas, where she filed for a homestead exemption—a move CNN reportedly intended to frame as a violation of voter eligibility rules in her home state of Hawaii, where she cast her ballot in the last election.
Gabbard’s attorneys dismissed the accusation as baseless, explaining that she has always maintained legal residency in Hawaii and that the exemption was taken in Texas solely to protect her family’s privacy after credible threats were made against her. They emphasized that her voting in Hawaii was fully legal and consistent with long-standing residency requirements, much like the arrangements she had while serving in Congress.
“This is a new low, even for CNN,” said Olivia Coleman, press secretary for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. “To suggest that Director Gabbard—who has devoted her life to public service and national security—committed voter fraud is not just false, it’s malicious.”
According to her legal team, the report, if published, would meet the legal standard for defamation per se by falsely accusing Gabbard of criminal conduct. The letter to CNN makes it clear that any further action by the network to publish these claims could result in a full-scale lawsuit seeking damages for reputational harm.
Gabbard, a former member of Congress and 2020 presidential candidate, has been no stranger to political attacks, but sources close to her say this one has crossed a red line.
“This isn’t journalism—it’s a hit job designed to undermine her credibility and damage her standing as a national leader,” one ally noted.
As of now, CNN has not issued a public response to the legal threat. But the incident highlights a growing rift between establishment media outlets and figures within the Trump administration who are refusing to stay silent in the face of what they see as biased, agenda-driven reporting.
With Gabbard standing firm and ready to fight back in court, the message is clear: smearing patriots in positions of national trust will come with consequences.
Lawyers For Tulsi Gabbard Threaten CNN by Daily Wire Investigations Team