Obama Officials ‘Manufactured’ Intelligence To Push 2016 Russia Interference Story, Records Show
on Jul 18, 2025
Obama Administration Accused Of Shaping Intelligence On 2016 Russia Interference
Newly released records show that the Obama administration allegedly politicized intelligence to support a narrative that Russia was attempting to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.
Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified documents Friday (July 18) that reportedly contain “overwhelming evidence” suggesting that, following Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton, then-President Barack Obama and his national security team initiated efforts that laid the foundation for the subsequent years-long Trump–Russia collusion investigation.
The documents indicate that in the months leading up to the November 2016 election, the U.S. intelligence community consistently assessed that Russia was “probably not trying… to influence the election by using cyber means.”
Shortly after the 2016 election, however, officials from the Obama administration claimed that there was no credible evidence of Russia tampering with vote totals, despite recount efforts initiated by a third-party candidate in several swing states.
Among the documents was an Intelligence Community Assessment released in September 2016 that discovered “foreign adversaries do not have and will probably not obtain the capabilities to successfully execute widespread and undetected cyber attacks” on elections.
Tulsi Gabbard Threatens Prosecution Against Obama Administration Officials
Gabbard said in a statement Friday that she would provide all related documents to the Justice Department “to deliver the accountability that President Trump, his family, and the American people deserve.”
“The issue I am raising is not a partisan issue. It is one that concerns every American. 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,” she said.
Gabbard explained that her ultimate goal was to ensure nothing similar happens again within the United States government and those involved face consequences.
“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,” Gabbard said.
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Russia Collusion Rumors Impact On President Donald Trump
The allegations on Russia interfering with the 2016 presidential election led to a nearly two-year investigation, primarily led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, against Trump.
While the Mueller investigation did not establish conspiracy, its findings were used by Trump’s critics to justify impeachment efforts and ongoing congressional investigations.
The repeated allegations also cast a shadow over Trump’s legitimacy as president, fueling doubts about whether his election victory was fair and lawful.
Russia, Russia, Russia! That’s all you heard at the beginning of this Witch Hunt Hoax…And now Russia has disappeared because I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected. It was a crime that didn’t exist. So now the Dems and their partner, the Fake News Media,…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019
