Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Friday that she is referring a recently declassified memo from 2016 to the Department of Justice for possible criminal investigation.
The memo indicates U.S. intelligence officials had concluded Russia did not significantly influence the 2016 presidential election.
This assessment directly contradicts public claims made by top Obama administration officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director James Comey.
According to the document, President Barack Obama was informed that “Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure.”
The memo further stated that criminal activities “failed to reach the scale and sophistication necessary to change election outcomes.”
Despite those findings, the Russian collusion investigation was launched. It became a major political flashpoint and was widely seen as affecting Trump’s first term in office.
The investigation also played a role in shaping public opinion ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, per Trending Politics.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Gabbard discussed the implications of the 100-plus documents she has declassified and released. She said they detail what she described as deliberate political actions taken by top U.S. officials.
“These documents spell out exactly what happens when you have some of the most powerful people in our country—President Obama, James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, Susan Rice—making an intentional decision to create a politicized intelligence narrative,” Gabbard said.
She argued that this intelligence was used as a political weapon, with the goal of undermining the results of the 2016 election and weakening President Trump’s administration. She also said the fallout included significant harm to Trump’s allies.
“The years-long Mueller investigation cost taxpayers nearly $40 million,” Gabbard stated. “It included two congressional impeachments, media smears, and legal consequences for Trump’s family and senior staff.”
She also noted that U.S.-Russia tensions escalated as a result of the collusion narrative. “The consequences of Obama’s senior cabinet politicizing intelligence are extensive,” she said.
Gabbard confirmed that she is referring all relevant documents to the Department of Justice. She emphasized that holding officials accountable is essential to restoring public trust in government.
“I am referring these documents to the DOJ for further investigation,” she said. “But this is not just about investigating—it’s about action. Accountability must take place.”
She warned that failure to act would erode public faith in the American democratic system. “The future of our ability to exist as a functioning democratic republic is what’s at stake,” she said.
The Department of Justice has already begun examining the roles of Brennan and Comey. DOJ sources told Fox News that investigators are reviewing whether a broader conspiracy took place.
Investigators are reportedly focusing on testimony Brennan gave to Congress. One official said the DOJ is analyzing whether Brennan lied when he denied using the Steele dossier in the Intelligence Community Assessment.
Although the statute of limitations for perjury has passed, DOJ officials are considering possible charges related to conspiracy to commit perjury. Further investigations may follow.
