In a bombshell revelation that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, newly declassified documents released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) under Director Tulsi Gabbard on July 18, 2025, allege that former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and senior intelligence officials orchestrated a “treasonous conspiracy” to fabricate a narrative of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The documents, supported by Gabbard’s public statements, claim this effort was designed to delegitimize President Donald Trump’s victory, sow division in America, and undermine his presidency, costing taxpayers millions of dollars in investigations that yielded no charges or arrests against Trump during his first term.
The Alleged Conspiracy: Manufacturing the Russia Narrative
According to the declassified documents, the Obama administration, led by President Obama himself, initiated a concerted effort following Trump’s unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton in November 2016.
The ODNI report alleges that prior to the election, the Intelligence Community (IC) consistently assessed that Russia was “probably not trying … to influence the election by using cyber means.” A specific example cited is a December 7, 2016, talking point prepared for then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, stating, “Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome.”
However, the narrative shifted dramatically after Trump’s win.
On December 9, 2016, a National Security Council (NSC) meeting, attended by key figures including Obama, Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, former Secretary of State John Kerry, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, allegedly set the stage for a new intelligence assessment. Gabbard claims Obama directed the IC to produce a report detailing “the tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election,” overriding earlier assessments that found no evidence of Russian intent to manipulate the election outcome.
Central to this alleged scheme was the use of the Steele dossier, a controversial document prepared by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, funded in part by the Clinton campaign. The dossier, which contained unverified and salacious allegations of ties between Trump and Russia, was reportedly known by senior officials to be unreliable but was included in the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). Gabbard asserts that this “manufactured and politicized intelligence” formed the basis for the narrative that Russia intervened to help Trump defeat Clinton, despite pre-election intelligence indicating otherwise.
The Key Players: Obama, Clinton, and Intelligence Officials
The ODNI documents and Gabbard’s statements directly implicate Obama as the “ringleader” of this effort, with Trump himself echoing this sentiment in a July 22, 2025, statement from the Oval Office, claiming, “President Obama. He started it.” Alongside Obama, the documents name Clapper, Brennan, Comey, Rice, Kerry, Lynch, and McCabe as key figures in what Gabbard describes as a “years-long coup” to subvert Trump’s mandate.
Hillary Clinton’s role is also highlighted, with allegations that her campaign’s funding of the Steele dossier—reportedly costing $12 million—provided the foundation for the Russia narrative. Trump has claimed that Clinton and her team “spent $12 million to Christopher Steele to write up a report that was a total fake report,” a sentiment reiterated in the ODNI documents, which describe the dossier as “made-up fiction.”
The Cost to the Nation: Millions Spent, No Charges Against Trump
The fallout from this alleged conspiracy was significant. The Russia narrative fueled the lengthy Mueller investigation, which ran from 2017 to 2019 and cost taxpayers an estimated $32 million.
The probe investigated alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia but ultimately found no evidence of criminal collusion, resulting in no charges or arrests against Trump himself during his first term.
Additionally, the narrative led to two congressional impeachments, heightened U.S.-Russia tensions, and the investigation and prosecution of several Trump associates, further polarizing the nation.
Gabbard argues that these actions “subverted the will of the American people,” undermining the democratic process and costing millions in resources while sowing division. She stated, “The implications of this are frankly nothing short of historic,” emphasizing the need for accountability to prevent such actions in the future.
Democratic Pushback and Counterarguments
Democrats have fiercely criticized Gabbard’s claims as politically motivated and misleading. Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called the accusations “baseless” and “utter nonsense,” pointing to the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee’s 2020 report, which concluded that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election to benefit Trump, though it found no evidence of direct collusion. Senator Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, accused Gabbard of “weaponizing” her position to erode trust in the intelligence community.
A 2017 House Intelligence Committee report, drafted by Republicans, also took issue with the 2016 ICA but did not alter the fundamental conclusion that Russia sought to harm Clinton’s campaign. Democrats argue that Gabbard’s focus on the lack of evidence for vote manipulation misrepresents the broader issue of Russian influence operations, such as social media campaigns, which multiple investigations confirmed.
Former President Obama, in a rare public statement on July 22, 2025, dismissed Trump’s allegations as “bizarre” and a “weak attempt at distraction,” particularly amid ongoing scrutiny over the Trump administration’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.
Gabbard’s Call for Accountability
Gabbard has taken her allegations a step further, announcing that she has referred the documents to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal investigation.
The DOJ confirmed on July 23, 2025, the formation of a task force to examine these claims, signaling a potential escalation. Gabbard insists that “every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” naming Obama, Clapper, Brennan, Comey, and others.
Reports indicate that Brennan and Comey are already under FBI investigation for possible false statements to Congress related to the 2016 assessment, following a referral from current CIA Director John Ratcliffe.On July 23, 2025, Gabbard promised the release of additional documents to refute Obama’s denials, including statements from Clinton, Brennan, and others that she claims perpetuate the false narrative of Russian interference.
Trump has amplified these efforts, reposting Gabbard’s interviews and sharing an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting Obama’s arrest, further escalating the rhetoric.
A Nation Divided
The release of these documents and Gabbard’s allegations have reignited a contentious debate about the 2016 election, with significant implications for public trust in institutions.
While supporters of Trump and Gabbard view the disclosures as evidence of a deep-state plot, critics argue they are a distraction from current controversies, such as the Epstein case, and a dangerous attempt to rewrite history.
The cost of the Russia probe—both in dollars and in national unity—remains a stark reminder of the consequences of politicized narratives. As Gabbard and the DOJ move forward, the question remains whether these allegations will lead to accountability or further deepen America’s divisions.