Sharp Division Among Republicans After Call for Obama's Trial

Documents revealed by US intelligence about the Obama administration's review of the 2016 elections demand President Donald Trump to call for the trial of several former officials, including his predecessor in office.

However, many Republicans in Congress have not gone this far. While Trump supporters within the Republican Party in Congress expressed their anger, their opinions differed on the appropriate form of accountability.


Democratic figures believe that the Trump administration distorts facts completely and misuses intelligence and the judicial system, considering it an attempt to divert attention from the increasing pressure on the White House to reveal more information about the late financier and accused sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Although the documents did not reveal any new information regarding Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 elections, Republicans considered that intelligence reviews aimed to cast doubt on Trump's victory. These documents did not undermine the main conclusion, that Russia conducted a wide-ranging campaign to influence the election results.

Republican leaders in the House promised to conduct an investigation in Congress, but they did not go as far as calling for trials like Trump did, and they did not propose any tangible sanctions against the names mentioned in the new documents.

The House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise, described what the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, revealed as "extremely troubling," but he rejected calls for arrests or trials, saying: "There should be accountability, and now our committees will start their work. There is a lot to uncover... You have to follow the evidence wherever it leads, and if someone breaks the law, then action is taken. We are still in the early stages, so we have to see where things will lead us."