IC Oversight & Authorities — 2026-05-17

ODNI denies CIA raided Gabbard office as Congress demands answers on seized JFK and MKUltra declassification files

BLUFCongressional access to the disputed 40 boxes is unlikely within 60 days, as competing ODNI-CIA jurisdictional claims and the absence of official confirmation will stall subpoena enforcement even if Luna acts promptly.

ODNI press secretary Olivia Coleman denied that the CIA raided Director Gabbard's office, but CIA whistleblower James Erdman III testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the agency had removed approximately 40 boxes of JFK and MKUltra files from ODNI while they were undergoing declassification review pursuant to a Trump executive order. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) told The Washington Times that lawmakers have received 'conflicting information' about at least 11 of the boxes and gave the CIA 24 hours to return the documents before she would move to subpoena them. Luna and Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) subsequently visited CIA headquarters to demand disclosure of all files designated for declassification, and the House Oversight Committee ordered the CIA to preserve the documents.

Analysis
ODNI's denial addresses only the "raid" characterization, not whether a transfer occurred, and no agency has acknowledged the documents' current location. Erdman's testimony remains the sole direct account of removal, corroborated only within a narrow cluster anchored by The Washington Times, leaving congressional access to the 40 boxes unlikely within 60 days. Competing ODNI-CIA jurisdictional claims will slow subpoena enforcement regardless of Luna's stated timeline. The CIA may have acted under lawful retention authority as the originating agency, making the transfer administrative rather than obstructive. Absent document recovery, Luna must decide whether to commit the committee's enforcement calendar to a formal subpoena that puts her on a confrontation footing with Ratcliffe.

4 sources

Key Questions After DNI Denies CIA Raid Claim - Newsweek
ODNI denies claims CIA raided Gabbard's office over JFK and MKUltra files - Washington Examiner
CIA removed JFK assassination files from Tulsi Gabbard's office, lawmakers demand answers - Washington Times
DNI denies reports CIA 'raided' Tulsi Gabbard's office to seize documents related to JFK, MK Ultra - Just The News