Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents and whistleblower emails that lay bare one of the most egregious abuses of power in modern American history.
Gabbard’s assessment paints a clear picture:
the Obama administration politicized and weaponized the U.S. intelligence community to fabricate a narrative of Russian election interference in 2016, all in an effort to undermine Donald Trump’s presidency and subvert the will of the American electorate. This was not mere bureaucratic overreach but a calculated, years-long coup attempt that eroded the foundations of our democratic republic.
As Gabbard rightly asserts, the truth must now lead to accountability for all involved.
The Pre-Election Consensus:
No Russian Threat to Election Integrity
For months leading up to the 2016 presidential election, the intelligence community’s consensus was unambiguous: Russia lacked both the intent and the capability to hack or significantly influence U.S. election results. Multiple assessments from agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CIA, and FBI reinforced this view. For instance, on August 31, 2016, a DHS official informed then-DNI James Clapper that there was “no indication of a Russian threat to directly manipulate the actual vote count.” Similarly, a September 12, 2016, Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) noted that foreign adversaries, including Russia, likely lacked the capabilities for widespread and undetected cyber attacks on election infrastructure.
These findings were consistent and evidence-based, reflecting professional analytic judgments free from political bias. Gabbard highlights how this pre-election intelligence stood in stark contrast to the post-election narrative peddled by Obama officials, underscoring the deliberate shift that occurred after Trump’s unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton.
The Post-Election Pivot:
Suppressing Truth and Fabricating Lies
Trump’s historic win on November 8, 2016, triggered a seismic change within the intelligence apparatus. On December 8, 2016, IC officials prepared an assessment for the President’s Daily Brief (PDB) explicitly stating that Russia “did not impact recent U.S. election results” through cyber attacks on infrastructure. This document, declassified by Gabbard, detailed that while Russian-affiliated actors had compromised an Illinois voter registration database and attempted similar intrusions elsewhere, these actions were unlikely to alter vote tallies due to the decentralized nature of U.S. election systems.
Shockingly, this truthful assessment was abruptly pulled before reaching President Obama, citing “new guidance.” It was never published, effectively burying evidence that contradicted the emerging anti-Trump storyline. The very next day, December 9, 2016, top national security officials—including FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and DNI James Clapper—convened at the Obama White House to discuss Russia.
Obama directed the creation of a new ICA detailing Russian election meddling, despite this directive clashing with numerous prior assessments.
This meeting marked the genesis of the Russiagate hoax. Obama officials wasted no time enlisting media allies, leaking classified information to outlets like The Washington Post. Anonymous sources falsely claimed Russia had intervened via cyber means to favor Trump, even asserting with “high confidence” that Vladimir Putin was personally involved in hacking the election. These leaks were not journalistic scoops but orchestrated disinformation, designed to poison public perception before Trump could assume office.
The Culmination:
A Politicized Assessment Built on the Steele Dossier
The climax of this conspiracy unfolded on January 6, 2017 — just days before Trump’s inauguration — when DNI Clapper unveiled the Obama-directed ICA.
This report claimed Russia had meddled to help Trump, suppressing earlier intelligence showing no such intent or capability. Whistleblower emails, shared with Gabbard on July 18, 2025, reveal the ICA’s fatal flaw: it relied on the baseless, discredited Steele Dossier as a key source.
One whistleblower, removed from ICA drafting after questioning inconsistencies, later learned of the dossier’s inclusion. They expressed inability to concur with the ICA’s judgment of Russian preference for Trump, based on available information, only to be told by a superior, “you need to trust me on this” regarding unseen reporting.
Another email from September 2, 2016, showed the FBI requesting a report be “softened” to avoid implying definitive Russian intent to disrupt elections, with officials admitting discomfort over such claims.
Gabbard’s declassification exposes Brennan and Clapper as central figures in pushing this false narrative, using the dossier to justify their actions.
This was no honest mistake but a treasonous conspiracy at the highest levels, aimed at usurping a duly elected president.
Implications for Democracy: A Call for Justice
Gabbard’s revelations confirm what many suspected: the Russiagate saga was a manufactured crisis to delegitimize Trump’s presidency, subverting the American people’s mandate. This betrayal strikes at the heart of our republic, where intelligence should serve truth, not partisan agendas.
As Gabbard states, “the integrity of our democratic republic demands that every person involved be investigated and brought to justice.”
She has provided all documents to the Department of Justice, prompting investigations into Comey and Brennan. This step is essential to prevent future weaponization of intelligence.
Americans across the political spectrum should applaud Gabbard’s courage in unveiling these truths, ensuring such abuses never recur.
The Obama-era plot was a DIRECT ASSAULT on democracy, and accountability is the only path to restoration.
Credit: Donald Trump For President
