Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence in Donald Trump administration, has called for former President Barack Obama and several senior national security officials from his administration to face prosecution over what she described as a “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory.
Did Barack Obama Manufacture Intelligence and a Years-Long Coup?
Gabbard alleged that Obama and his senior officials orchestrated “a years-long coup” against Trump by manufacturing intelligence that suggested Russia interfered in the 2016 election. She claimed officials knowingly used the Steele dossier despite its questionable reliability.
🧵 Americans will finally learn the truth about how in 2016, intelligence was politicized and weaponized by the most powerful people in the Obama Administration to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President @realDonaldTrump, subverting the… pic.twitter.com/UQKKZ5c4Op
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 18, 2025
She noted that post-election intelligence reports contradicted earlier assessments which indicated Russia probably was not trying to influence the election.
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Tulsi Gabbard Demands Investigation and Prosecution Of Barack Obama But Why?
In a public statement, Gabbard said,”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… No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Gabbard said she is submitting supporting documents to the Justice Department, including a partially redacted intelligence community assessment on cyber threats and classified memos from James Clapper’s office.
Who Else Has Officials Tulsi Gabbard Named in the Alleged Conspiracy?
Besides Obama, Gabbard named several officials allegedly involved:
John Brennan, former CIA Director
John Kerry, then-Secretary of State
Susan Rice, former National Security Adviser
Andrew McCabe, former Deputy FBI Director
James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence
Gabbard’s allegations come as Trump’s supporters continue to challenge the Russia probe, which Trump calls a “hoax.” The administration also faces pressure to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.
Trump has dismissed such files as fabricated by Obama-era officials including James Comey and Joe Biden.
“The Russia Hoax” Memo That Is Heating Up Against Barack Obama
Documents published by Gabbard’s office include a memo titled “The Russia Hoax” referencing a December 9, 2016 meeting of Obama’s national security team. It alleges that intelligence officials leaked false information to the Washington Post claiming Russian cyber interference.
Treason is defined in the U.S. Constitution and federal law as levying war against the country or aiding its enemies. Conviction requires clear evidence, including two witnesses to the same overt act or a confession.
Democratic Representative Jim Himes criticized Gabbard’s accusations as “baseless” and damaging, stating, “the IC leaders in 2016 understood that they took an oath to the Constitution, not President Trump. I wish Director Gabbard could say the same.”
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
