Serious Accusations Rock the "Obama Administration".. What is Russia's Role?

SadaNews - In an intriguing step that may reopen one of the most sensitive political files in recent U.S. history, Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered the commencement of a grand jury investigation into allegations that officials in former President Barack Obama's administration fabricated intelligence regarding Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

This development follows an official referral from National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, which opens the door to a criminal investigation that could involve prominent names in the previous administration, reigniting the debate over the integrity of intelligence institutions and political interventions in national security matters.

Bondi directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into claims that members of the Obama administration fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 elections, according to a source familiar with CNN.

The grand jury will have the authority to issue subpoenas as part of a criminal investigation into renewed claims that Democratic officials attempted to tarnish Donald Trump's reputation during his 2016 campaign by falsely alleging collusion between his campaign and the Russian government.

It may also consider bringing charges if the Department of Justice decides to pursue the case criminally.

Disclosure of Intelligence Documents

This move came after a referral from Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, who lifted the confidentiality of documents last July that she claims undermine the conclusion of the Obama administration that Russia attempted to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

Gabbard requested that the Department of Justice investigate Obama and senior officials in his administration for alleged conspiracy.

Following Gabbard's referral, Bondi announced that the Department of Justice is in the process of establishing a "task force" to assess the evidence revealed by Gabbard and "investigate possible subsequent legal actions resulting from the disclosures of National Intelligence Director Gabbard."

Response from the Department of Justice

For its part, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice declined to comment on the investigation report, but stated that Bondi is taking Gabbard's referral "seriously."

The spokesperson also added that Bondi believes there is a "clear reason for profound concern" and a necessity for subsequent steps.

However, despite Gabbard's insistence that Russia's goal in 2016 was to sow doubt in American democracy and not to assist Trump, the unsealed documents do not negate or change the core conclusions reached by the U.S. government in 2017, which confirm that Russia launched a campaign of influence and cyber hacking aimed at defeating Clinton.

Obama's Office Issues a Statement

In July, Obama's office issued a statement describing Trump's allegations of treason against him as "strange claims and a feeble attempt to divert attention," while simultaneously emphasizing the undeniable fact that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 elections.

Obama's office clarified at the time that "nothing in the released document undermines the widely accepted conclusion that Russia acted to influence the 2016 presidential elections."

It added, however, that this influence did not reach the level of "successful manipulation of any votes," according to Reuters.

2016 Election Crisis

It is worth noting that the 2016 U.S. presidential elections saw one of the most controversial periods in American political history, where the competition between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton did not end at the ballot boxes, but transformed into a deep national crisis that reached intelligence institutions, the media, international relations, and even the trust of Americans in their democracy.

In January 2017, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia intervened systematically in the 2016 elections with the aim of undermining confidence in the American democratic system, harming Hillary Clinton's prospects, and supporting Donald Trump's campaign.

This intervention included cyberattacks on Democratic Party servers, the leaking of emails, alongside a massive misinformation campaign through social media.

The disclosure of Russian interference led to a series of investigations, most notably the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who sought to determine whether there was collusion between Trump's campaign and the Kremlin.

Although Mueller's report did not establish direct criminal collusion, it revealed multiple contacts between Trump campaign officials and individuals associated with Russia, leaving the door open regarding a potential obstruction of justice by Trump.