(The Center Square) – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s accusations that former President Barack Obama conspired to “usurp” President Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory has drawn criticism to years-long conclusions in the investigative community.
On July 18, Gabbard released a 114-page document titled “Declassified Evidence of Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert President Trump’s 2016 Victory and Presidency.” She also published an 11-page memo highlighting documents from the larger release in a timeline.
The documents asserted that the former president and his top administration officials forced the intelligence community to claim Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election.
The release included communications before the 2016 election where Department of Homeland Security officials and FBI officials said they did not feel comfortable implying there was “definitive” evidence that Russia intended to disrupt the election.
However, Gabbard’s report says a meeting with Obama and top administration officials in December 2016 tasked the former director of national intelligence James Clapper with compiling evidence of Russia’s influence over the election, rather than whether it was involved at all.
The investigation reportedly tasked Clapper with compiling instances of Russia’s involvement with hacking, leaks, media spin and cyber activity against voting systems rather than whether it was involved at all. The investigation involved Clapper, CIA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency officials.
Additionally, Gabbard’s report says intelligence officials leaked information to the media multiple times claiming that Russia was involved in hacking the election.
Ultimately, a 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee investigation assessed the efforts of the intelligence community’s efforts to document Russian intervention in the 2016 election. The report affirmed that Russia “directed extensive activity” from 2014 through 2017 “against U.S. infrastructure at the state and local level.”
Despite its findings, the committee concluded it found “no evidence that any votes were changed or any voting machines were manipulated.”
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., ranking member of the House intelligence committee, called Gabbard’s report a “dangerous lie.”
Himes affirmed the 2020 senate intelligence committee’s findings. He also said Russia bought “reams of Facebook ads to discredit Hillary Clinton.”
“The intelligence community is full of very, very good people who do their jobs every single day and now they’re watching their leader do something that each and every one of them knows is dishonest,” Himes said.
Despite criticism over Gabbard’s methods, Trump affirmed Gabbard’s report on Monday.
“Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and numerous others participated in this, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY!. Irrefutable EVIDENCE. A major threat to our Country!!!” Trump wrote on social media.
