Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into claims that members of the Obama administration fabricated intelligence about Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election. The move follows a referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who declassified documents in July that she claims contradict the conclusion that Russia aimed to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election.
Gabbard has requested that the Justice Department investigate former President Barack Obama and top officials for an alleged conspiracy to falsely link Trump’s campaign to Russian collusion. Following her referral, Bondi announced the formation of a DOJ “strike force” to assess the newly released evidence and determine next legal steps.
A grand jury would have the power to issue subpoenas and could potentially return indictments if sufficient evidence is found. The Justice Department has declined to comment publicly on the matter. However, CNN reports that Gabbard’s claims misrepresent the intelligence community’s findings. The core 2017 conclusion — that Russia interfered in the election to damage Hillary Clinton and help Trump — remains intact, according to the network.
