
Kenya, July 23 -- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced plans to release additional classified documents that challenge former President Barack Obama's denial of fabricating intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Gabbard alleges that Obama's administration manipulated evidence to undermine Donald Trump's 2016 victory, a claim supported by recently declassified files from her office.
Speaking on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, Gabbard stated these documents expose a "treasonous conspiracy" by Obama-era officials, including James Clapper and John Brennan, to delegitimise Trump's presidency.
Her bold move has sparked intense debate, with critics warning that exposing such a deep state plot puts her at significant personal risk.
Gabbard's allegations centre on a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) claiming Russia interfered to favour Trump over Hillary Clinton.
Her office's declassified memos, including a December 7, 2016, document stating that "foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the U.S. presidential election outcome," contradict the ICA's narrative.
Gabbard argues that Obama's team, including Clapper, Brennan, Susan Rice, and others, manufactured intelligence post-election to fuel the Trump-Russia collusion probe, which led to Robert Mueller's investigation and two impeachments.
She plans to release over 230,000 pages of additional classified documents, supported by whistleblower testimonies, to expose what she calls a "years-long coup" against Trump.
The former Democratic congresswoman, now a Trump-appointed Republican, has faced backlash for her claims. Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Jim Himes and Sen. Mark Warner criticised her for "rehashing decade-old false claims" and eroding trust in the intelligence community.
A 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee report, led by Republicans like Marco Rubio, found "irrefutable evidence" of Russian interference, including disinformation campaigns and DNC hacks, contradicting Gabbard's narrative.
However, her supporters, including Trump and Sen. Tom Cotton, praise her for uncovering a deep state plot, with Trump sharing an AI-generated video of Obama's arrest on Truth Social. People are noting, "Tulsi's exposing the deep state like never before," while others call her actions reckless.
Gabbard's lack of intelligence experience and past pro-Russia comments, including her 2017 meeting with Syria's Bashar al-Assad and defence of Russia's Ukraine invasion, have fueled concerns about her suitability as DNI. Critics like Rep.
Abigail Spanberger argue her history of amplifying Kremlin talking points undermines her credibility.
Yet, Gabbard insists her declassifications aim to restore public trust, citing a December 9, 2016, National Security Council meeting where Obama allegedly ordered a new ICA to frame Russia's actions.
Her office claims the Steele dossier, a discredited source, was used to bolster these claims, a point disputed by Democrats who note the dossier was an FBI appendix, not central to the ICA.
The risks Gabbard faces are a focal point, with people warning, "The deep state is fighting back hard against her."
Her criminal referral to the DOJ, targeting Obama, Clapper, Brennan, and others, has prompted FBI investigations into Brennan and James Comey for possible false statements, intensifying the stakes.
Supporters argue she's uncovering systemic corruption, while critics, including Obama's spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush, call her allegations "ridiculous" and a distraction from Trump's controversies, like the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
People search online with trends showing surging searches for "Gabbard's classified documents deep state" and "Obama Russian interference 2016," reflecting global interest, including in Kenya, where political transparency debates resonate.
As Gabbard prepares to release more evidence, the controversy shows a broader battle over the 2016 election's legacy.
Her claims, if substantiated, could reshape perceptions of Obama's administration, but doubters argue they misrepresent Russia's documented disinformation efforts.
The polarised discourse, amplified by Trump's endorsements and Democratic rebuttals, highlights the challenges of navigating intelligence transparency in a politically charged era.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.