Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has leveled explosive accusations against the Obama administration, claiming to have uncovered evidence of what she calls "the most egregious weaponization and politicization of intelligence in American history". In a series of document releases and public statements this week, Gabbard alleges that former President Barack Obama and his national security team orchestrated a deliberate campaign to undermine President Trump's 2016 electoral victory.
The Core Allegations
Gabbard's accusations center on the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that concluded Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign to help elect Donald Trump. According to Gabbard, "there is irrefutable evidence that details how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false".
The intelligence chief claims the Obama administration "manufactured" this assessment to promote what she calls a "contrived narrative" that Russia interfered to help Trump win. Gabbard alleges this was done to "delegitimize President Trump even before he was inaugurated, ultimately usurping the will of the American people".
Declassified Evidence
To support her claims, Gabbard has declassified a 2017 House Intelligence Committee report that questioned the intelligence community's assessment. The Republican-authored report concluded that the judgment about Putin's preference for Trump "did not adhere to intelligence community standards because it came from information that was 'unclear, of uncertain origin, potentially biased or implausible'".
Gabbard points to intelligence assessments from before the election showing that Russia was "probably not trying to influence the election by using cyber means", contrasting this with post-election conclusions that Russia actively worked to help Trump.
Criminal Referral and Next Steps
Taking her allegations a step further, Gabbard has referred all documents to the Department of Justice and FBI for criminal prosecution. "In my view, we have the evidence to be able to move forward and bring about justice, yes, to prosecute and indict those responsible," she told Fox News.
Gabbard describes the alleged plot as a "years-long coup" against Trump and accuses the Obama administration of conspiring "to subvert the will of the American people".
Political Pushback
Obama's spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush dismissed the allegations as "bizarre" and "ridiculous", calling them "a weak attempt at distraction". Democrats suggest the timing coincides with pressure on Trump regarding the Jeffrey Epstein document releases.
The revelations have reignited debates about the origins and validity of the Russia investigation that dominated Trump's first presidency, with Gabbard positioning herself as a key figure in what supporters view as long-overdue accountability for alleged intelligence community misconduct.
