Tulsi Gabbard Accuses Obama Administration of ‘Treasonous Conspiracy’ in 2016 Election Intelligence

The National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, made a striking allegation during a White House briefing on Wednesday, claiming that former President Barack Obama and his administration orchestrated a “false” intelligence analysis to suggest that Russia had intervened to aid Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

This unprecedented assertion marks a significant departure from the traditionally reserved stance of U.S. intelligence officials towards past administrations. Gabbard, who previously served as a Democratic congresswoman, stated, “There is irrefutable evidence detailing how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false.”

In support of her claims, Gabbard revealed that she had declassified a five-year-old report from the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee, which had been dismissed by Democratic lawmakers at the time. This report questioned the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia sought to disrupt the election to benefit Trump and instead supported the idea that the assessment’s findings were partially based on questionable intelligence.

Former President Obama and his aides have vehemently rejected Gabbard’s assertions. Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesperson for Obama, described the claims as “bizarre” and a “weak attempt at distraction.” The timing of Gabbard’s accusations has led some to suspect that it is an attempt to divert attention from ongoing demands for the release of documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Historically, leaders from the intelligence community have maintained a low profile, avoiding overtly partisan rhetoric and allegations of criminal conspiracy against former presidents. However, Gabbard’s comments align with a political environment that has increasingly embraced conspiracy theories, particularly those surrounding the Trump administration.

The declassified Republican report sought to undermine the intelligence community’s assessment that Russian interference was aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton’s candidacy while boosting Trump’s. Although the report acknowledged the core findings of the 2017 assessment, it contested the assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin “aspired” to see Trump win the election.

In contrast, a comprehensive Senate investigation conducted over three years, which included testimonies from over 200 witnesses, upheld the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia had engaged in disinformation campaigns and leaked stolen emails to support Trump’s candidacy.

Gabbard’s actions to reintroduce this politically charged debate come at a time when neither side of the American political spectrum feels fully satisfied with the intelligence assessments regarding Russia’s influence on the 2016 election. While special counsel Robert Mueller found evidence of Russian interference, he did not establish any criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia—a key point of contention for many Democrats.

On the other hand, special counsel John Durham’s investigation, initiated by Trump, failed to substantiate claims of a conspiracy among Obama administration officials to fabricate intelligence regarding Russia, disappointing many on the political right.

Critics have expressed concern that Gabbard’s decision to declassify the Republican report could jeopardize sensitive intelligence sources. Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, criticized the move as a “desperate and irresponsible” act that could endanger critical intelligence methods used against Russia.

During her presentation, Gabbard also pointed to alleged Russian intelligence reporting on Clinton, which had not been verified, while condemning the inclusion of an unverified dossier about Trump by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele in the 2017 assessment. This dossier was accompanied by a disclaimer noting that its claims had not been substantiated.

Representative Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, condemned Gabbard’s accusations as an attempt to distract from bipartisan criticisms of the Trump administration regarding the Epstein files. He warned that Gabbard’s claims of a treasonous conspiracy were not only unfounded but dangerously inflammatory.

Gabbard’s allegations represent a significant escalation in the ongoing debate over the legacy of the 2016 election and the role of foreign interference in American democracy.