US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday called for a criminal investigation into former President Barack Obama and senior officials of his administration, accusing them of orchestrating a “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential victory by politicising intelligence.
In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Gabbard alleged that key Obama-era officials—including former DNI James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, and FBI Director James Comey—manipulated intelligence assessments to falsely implicate Russia in swaying the election in Trump’s favor.
“Americans will finally learn the truth about how, in 2016, intelligence was weaponised by the most powerful people in the Obama Administration to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Donald Trump,” Gabbard said.
Her statement follows the release of a 114-page Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) report, which Gabbard claims shows that, prior to the 2016 election, intelligence agencies assessed that Russia was likely not influencing the outcome through cyber means. However, these findings were later revised after a December 8 draft PDB stated there was no impact on the election—an assessment that was allegedly withdrawn on “new guidance.”
Gabbard alleged that a National Security Council meeting at the Obama White House the next day directed intelligence agencies to prepare a new report asserting Russian interference—despite prior internal assessments indicating otherwise.
Emails cited in the ODNI report indicate that the revised narrative was created at Obama’s request, according to Gabbard. She also accused the administration of leaking classified information to the media to build a public case for Russian interference, specifically referencing coverage in The Washington Post.
Gabbard said the subsequent Intelligence Community Assessment released on January 6, 2017, relied on the now-discredited Steele Dossier and laid the foundation for “countless smears,” the Mueller investigation, and heightened US-Russia tensions.
“This was politicised intelligence used to delegitimise President Trump’s victory,” she stated.
Calling for accountability, Gabbard urged the Department of Justice to prosecute those responsible. “Every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she said, adding that all relevant documents have been sent to the DOJ for criminal referral.
She concluded: “The American people’s faith and trust in our democratic republic—and therefore the future of our nation—depends on it.”
