Trump ramps up 'attacks' on election system

STORY: AGENCIES

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The director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, wearing a coat and dark cap, at the Fulton County elections office in Fairburn, Georgia, on Jan 28.

(AGENCIEIS)

President Donald Trump has defended the director of national intelligence’s presence at a Georgie election centre raid, as he raises the prospect that the US should “nationalise” voting to clamp down on fraud.

On Thursday, Mr Trmup said Attorney General Pam Bondi wanted Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, to oversee the FBI seizure and search of voter rolls in Georgia.

Ms Gabbard’s involvement in the Georgia raid has drawn scrutiny given that her role overseeing the nation’s intelligence agencies does not include onsite involvement in criminal investigative work and because the results of Georgia's 2020 election have been the cornerstone of Mr Trump's claims that the election was rigged against him.

During remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Mr Trump said Ms Gabbard went to Georgia at the direction of Ms Bondi.

“She took a lot of heat two days ago because she went in — at Pam's insistence — she went in, and she looked at votes that want to be checked out,” Mr Trump said of Ms Gabbard.

“Why is she doing it, right Pam, why is she doing it? Because Pam wanted her to do it. And you know why? Because she's smart.”