Declassified files allege Obama officials "manufactured" intelligence to spark the Trump-Russia investigation, prompting DOJ review.

Gabbard Releases Explosive Documents, DOJ Receives Criminal Referral

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has released a trove of declassified documents that she claims provide "overwhelming evidence" of a coordinated effort by Obama-era officials to manufacture intelligence supporting the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. The disclosures have reignited debate about the origins of the yearslong investigation into possible ties between President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian actors, a probe that has shaped American politics for nearly a decade.

On Friday, Gabbard announced that she was sending a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ), citing evidence that former President Barack Obama and top national security aides politicized intelligence to undermine the incoming Trump administration. The documents name a roster of high-profile former officials, including Obama, National Security Council members, ex-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former Secretary of State John Kerry, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.

"The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government," Gabbard told reporters. "Their goal was to subvert the will of the American people and enact what was essentially a years-long coup with the objective of trying to usurp the President from fulfilling the mandate bestowed upon him by the American people."

Gabbard, who emphasized that the allegations transcend party lines, warned that "egregious abuse of power and blatant rejection of our Constitution" threatens the very integrity of American democracy. She urged the DOJ to fully investigate and prosecute anyone involved, regardless of their former positions. "No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again," she said.

DOJ and Senate Judiciary Move Forward as Key Figures Remain Silent

The DOJ confirmed receipt of Gabbard’s criminal referral but declined further comment on potential next steps. Meanwhile, prominent Obama-era officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey, have not responded to requests for comment.

FBI Director Kash Patel has opened a criminal investigation into Brennan and Comey for alleged wrongdoing connected to the Trump-Russia probe, including accusations of making false statements to Congress, according to Justice Department sources. The referral comes one week after CIA Director John Ratcliffe also called for criminal proceedings against Brennan.

Gabbard elaborated on the allegations in a televised interview, saying, "The implications of this are frankly nothing short of historic." She stated that the newly publicized documents detail how the conspiracy was "directed by President Obama just weeks before he was due to leave office after President Trump had already gotten elected." She added, "This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is an issue that is so serious it should concern every single American because it has to do with the integrity of our democratic republic."

In parallel, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is set to declassify the appendix to a 2018 DOJ Inspector General report. The appendix reportedly focuses on the Clinton email investigation, another high-profile inquiry dating to Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state. While Comey acknowledged Clinton mishandled classified information, the FBI ultimately declined to pursue charges at the time.

The current developments signal a new phase in a saga that has divided Washington for years. As the DOJ reviews the newly submitted evidence and the Senate prepares further disclosures, the stakes for government accountability and public trust in the American electoral process could not be higher. The political and legal aftermath will be closely watched in the months ahead, as officials and observers alike grapple with the broader implications for U.S. democracy.