Tulsi Gabbard Urges Prosecution of Obama Officials amid Trump-Epstein Scrutiny
While President Donald Trump faces questions about his connection to Jeffrey Epstein and the demand for the full release of the Epstein files, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a report on Friday focusing on an alleged "treasonous conspiracy" by the Obama administration during the 2016 election.
Gabbard declassified the report and claimed that Americans would finally learn the truth about the 2016 election. She alleged that the Obama administration and FBI officials manipulated intelligence to cast doubt on Trump's election victory in 2016.
The report, titled the "Russia Hoax," accuses former officials James Clapper, John Brennan, and James Comey of being part of a treasonous conspiracy in 2016. Trump fired Comey in 2017, who oversaw the FBI during the Russian interference investigation.
The declassified report includes 114 pages of partially redacted emails showing communication among Obama administration officials regarding potential Russian interference in the election. Gabbard cited intelligence assessments indicating Russia was likely not trying to influence the election through cyber means in 2016, contrary to later press reports.
Gabbard's memo claims that the Obama administration relied on the Steele Dossier to assert Russian interference in the election. This contradicts a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee investigation and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's 2019 report, both of which confirmed Russian interference.
Gabbard called for the prosecution of Obama administration officials involved in the alleged conspiracy. Rep. Jim Himes criticized Gabbard's allegations, stating they were baseless and aimed at diverting attention.
Pressure mounted on the Trump administration to release the Epstein files following a report alleging Trump sent a suggestive letter to Epstein for his 50th birthday. Trump sued the reporters behind the story and ordered the release of grand jury testimony linked to Epstein's indictment. Rep. Ro Khanna noted the testimony mainly pertains to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, not other individuals.
Mueller's investigation from 2017 to 2019 found no evidence of Trump campaign collusion with Russia in the 2016 election. However, Mueller did not exonerate Trump from obstruction of justice. Trump has consistently dismissed the investigations as "witch hunts" and denied Russian election interference.