Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a new batch of declassified documents on April 13, 2026, related to the events that led to the 2019 impeachment of Donald Trump. According to her office, the materials raise questions about how a whistleblower complaint tied to a 2019 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was handled before being submitted to Congress.
The documents focus in part on actions taken by former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson. Gabbard stated that Atkinson did not fully follow established procedures and relied on limited interviews during the review process. She also said that none of the individuals interviewed had direct, firsthand knowledge of the call in question, which became central to the impeachment inquiry.
Additional details highlighted concerns about potential bias in the whistleblower process. The whistleblower—widely reported to be intelligence analyst Eric Ciaramella—was described in the documents as having prior political affiliations and professional connections relevant to Ukraine policy. The report also notes discrepancies regarding whether the whistleblower had prior contact with members of Congress before filing the complaint.
Responding to the release, Trump said the findings support his long-standing criticism of the investigation and impeachment proceedings. The Senate ultimately acquitted him following the House impeachment in 2019. The newly released documents are likely to renew debate over how intelligence processes were used and interpreted during that period.