Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed Wednesday that former President Barack Obama has been referred to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation over his role in shaping the intelligence narrative surrounding alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Speaking at the White House, Gabbard said her office’s investigation uncovered “irrefutable evidence” that Obama directed senior officials — including then-CIA Director John Brennan — to manufacture an intelligence assessment falsely claiming Russia worked to help Donald Trump win the presidency. She said the now-discredited Steele Dossier was used to bolster those claims.
“Are you referring former President Obama to the DOJ for criminal implications?”
TULSI GABBARD: “Correct!” pic.twitter.com/W7ZzAQ8vyD
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 23, 2025
“We have referred and will continue to refer all of these documents to the Department of Justice and the FBI,” Gabbard told reporters in response to a question from Emily Jashinsky. “The evidence that we have found and that we have released directly point to President Obama leading the manufacturing of this intelligence assessment.”
When asked if Obama’s actions amounted to treason, Gabbard deferred: “That’s a question for Attorney General Pam Bondi.”
REPORTER: “Do you believe President Obama is guilty of treason?”@DNIGabbard: “When you look at the intent behind creating a fake, manufactured intelligence document that directly contradicts multiple assessments that were created by the intelligence community, the expressed… pic.twitter.com/PQZtRB2UZA
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 23, 2025
In conjunction with her remarks, Gabbard declassified and released additional documents, including a 2016 report indicating that Russian operations did not aim to elect Trump — directly undercutting the central claim advanced in the Obama-era intelligence assessment.
Attorney General Bondi has not yet commented on the referral. The DOJ is expected to review the materials and determine whether charges are warranted.
🧵 New evidence has emerged of the most egregious weaponization and politicization of intelligence in American history. Per President @realDonaldTrump‘s directive, I have declassified a @HouseIntel oversight majority staff report that exposes how the Obama Administration… pic.twitter.com/0sS4Df8yoI
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 23, 2025
If pursued, the investigation would mark a significant escalation in efforts to revisit the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative.
