New Judicial Investigation Targets Obama Administration Over Allegations of Fabricating Information About Russian Interference in the 2016 Elections
In a new development that reopens one of the most controversial political files in the United States, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the start of a judicial investigation through a grand jury regarding allegations of intelligence information fabrication by officials in former President Barack Obama's administration related to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.
This step came based on an official referral from National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who lifted the confidentiality of documents last July that she claimed "undermine the Obama administration's conclusion that Russia attempted to help Donald Trump against Hillary Clinton." Gabbard called for the Justice Department to investigate Obama and former officials in his administration for "alleged conspiracy."
According to a source familiar with CNN, the grand jury will have the authority to issue subpoenas and consider bringing an indictment if the Justice Department decides to proceed with the case. The allegations revolve around Democratic officials attempting to "smear Trump" during his campaign by falsely accusing him of collusion with Russia.
Bondi announced the formation of a "strike force" within the Justice Department to assess the evidence revealed by Gabbard, noting that there is a "clear cause for deep concern." For its part, the department declined to comment on the details of the investigation but confirmed that Bondi is taking Gabbard's referral "very seriously."
In response to these developments, Obama's office described the previous allegations against him as "strange claims," asserting that "nothing in the released documents changes the established fact that Russia attempted to influence the elections," according to a statement reported by Reuters.
This new investigation comes in the context of the political crisis that erupted following the 2016 elections, in which U.S. intelligence accused Russia of launching cyberattacks on the Democratic Party and leaking emails, in addition to conducting a wide-ranging disinformation campaign.
Although official investigations, including Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, did not establish direct criminal collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, they confirmed that the Russian goal was to "undermine confidence in American democracy."
