The Department of Justice acknowledged on Monday that it received a criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who alleges that Obama-era officials fabricated and politicized intelligence to fuel the narrative of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to Fox News. The DOJ confirmed the receipt but provided no further details.
On Friday, Gabbard unveiled a collection of unclassified documents, which she claims provide “overwhelming evidence” that former President Barack Obama and his national security team engineered the Trump-Russia collusion investigation after Donald Trump’s 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. In a post on X, Gabbard stated, “Their aim was to undermine President Trump and the will of the American people. Everyone involved in this conspiracy, no matter their influence, must face investigation and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic is at stake.” She added that all documents were being submitted to the DOJ for criminal referral.
Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people.
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 18, 2025
No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it.
We… pic.twitter.com/KJ7qrmMv0k
During a Sunday appearance on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo, Gabbard detailed the evidence, calling it “overwhelming” proof of a coordinated effort by Obama-era officials to create the Trump-Russia collusion narrative post-election. “This is a historic issue,” she said. “The over 100 documents we released show how this treasonous plot was directed by President Obama just weeks before he left office, after Trump’s election.” The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii emphasized, “This transcends party lines—it’s about the integrity of our democratic republic and should concern every American.”
In response, Trump shared a video on Truth Social featuring prominent Democrats, including Obama, stating, “No one is above the law.” The clip transitions to an AI-generated scene of Trump and Obama in the Oval Office, culminating with FBI agents arresting the 44th president as “YMCA” plays.
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is releasing newly declassified documents from a 2018 DOJ Inspector General report on the Justice Department’s actions during the 2016 election, Fox News confirmed. Grassley plans to declassify the report’s appendix, which focuses on the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for classified information during her time as secretary of state under Obama. Then-FBI Director James Comey admitted Clinton mishandled classified material but declined to recommend charges, stating no “reasonable prosecutor” would pursue the case.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, sharply criticized Gabbard’s document release, claiming it endangered former CIA Director John Brennan by exposing alleged abuses of power. In a heated CBS “Face the Nation” interview on Sunday, Himes called Gabbard’s actions a “dangerous lie,” warning that terms like “sedition” and “treason” could incite violence from “MAGA mouth-breathers online.” He added, “Somebody is going to get hurt because of this.”
