Donald Trump refers Obama for 'criminal' investigation over unfounded 'coup' claims

 

Tulsi Gabbard Refers Obama to DOJ Over 2016 Russia Probe Allegations

A new wave of controversy has emerged in Washington after Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump, publicly accused former President Barack Obama of orchestrating a “treasonous” conspiracy during the 2016 election cycle. Gabbard referred Obama to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation related to the origins of the Russia probe.

The accusations stem from a recently declassified report released by Gabbard and House Republicans. While the report does not dispute that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election, it criticizes the intelligence community’s methods and suggests political bias in the assessment that Vladimir Putin supported Donald Trump’s candidacy. Gabbard claims the Obama administration “rigged” intelligence conclusions to frame Trump’s victory as illegitimate.

During a press briefing at the White House on July 23, Gabbard stated:

“The expressed intent and what followed afterwards can only be described as a years-long coup and treasonous conspiracy against the American people.”

She did not explicitly accuse Obama of treason but emphasized that the DOJ would handle the legal determination. The remarks followed the publication of a report alleging that the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment was politically influenced.

In response, former President Obama issued a rare public statement dismissing the allegations and defending the integrity of the intelligence findings during his administration. Obama accused the Trump administration of attempting to rewrite the history of Russian interference for political purposes.

The renewed focus on the origins of the Russia investigation comes as former President Trump faces criticism over unrelated matters, including the handling of records connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Critics argue that the new report and Gabbard's statements may be part of a broader strategy to discredit past investigations and shift public discourse ahead of the election cycle.

While these claims have energized parts of the conservative base, they remain heavily disputed and unproven. Multiple bipartisan investigations and assessments by U.S. intelligence agencies have consistently affirmed Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, though interpretations of motive and political impact remain contentious.

This latest episode underscores how unresolved tensions from the 2016 election continue to shape political narratives and deepen partisan divides nearly a decade later.