Democrats and election experts are raising concerns after Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, was seen at a recent FBI raid on the Fulton County elections office in Georgia. This office has been the focus of former President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Gabbard, who has no domestic law enforcement authority, was photographed outside the elections office as the FBI executed a search warrant to seize ballots and other records from the 2020 election. Her presence has puzzled not only Democrats on Capitol Hill but also some officials from the Trump administration.

Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) expressed his alarm during a Senate hearing, questioning why the DNI was seen “lurking in an FBI evidence truck.” The Wall Street Journal reported that Gabbard has been investigating the 2020 election and regularly briefing Trump and other administration officials about her findings.

Despite the confusion, the White House has defended Gabbard’s role. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump is committed to ensuring that U.S. elections are secure and that Gabbard plays a key role in this effort.

However, Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, pointed out potential legal issues with Gabbard’s involvement in the raid. He suggested that if Gabbard was pursuing a foreign intelligence angle, she failed to inform the intelligence committees as required by law. Alternatively, her actions could be seen as part of a political stunt that undermines democracy.

The raid and Gabbard’s role have also sparked broader concerns about the impact on future elections. David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, criticized her presence at the voting site, stating it was troubling and unauthorized.

The controversy continues as federal officials took hundreds of boxes of ballots and related materials from the 2020 election for examination. Meanwhile, local and national lawyers are preparing a legal response, and Democrats fear that such actions could have a chilling effect on future electoral processes.

As the situation unfolds, the political and legal ramifications of the raid, and particularly Gabbard’s involvement, remain a subject of intense scrutiny and debate.