Washington, Jul 23: Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s office has dismissed recent allegations by President Donald Trump as “ridiculous,” after Trump accused Obama and senior officials from his administration of orchestrating a treasonous plot to falsely link him to Russia following his 2016 election victory.
“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” said Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush in a sharp response. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.”
Rodenbush added that recent developments do not alter the consensus of the U.S. intelligence community: “Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.” He pointed to the 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, chaired by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, which reaffirmed the findings.
Trump Escalates with ‘Treason’ Charge Over Declassified Intel
Earlier on Tuesday, President Trump dramatically escalated the rhetoric, accusing Obama and his top aides of committing “treason” in relation to the Trump–Russia probe. His remarks came after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents that she claims reveal politically motivated intelligence practices during the Obama era.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump declared: “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason. They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody’s ever imagined, even in other countries.”
Gabbard Sends Criminal Referral Over Obama-Era Intelligence Conduct
The controversy intensified after DNI Tulsi Gabbard submitted a criminal referral to the Department of Justice on Monday. In it, she alleged that senior Obama-era officials — including then-DNI James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, NSA Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe — manipulated intelligence assessments to craft a false narrative linking Trump to Russian interference.
Gabbard’s referral centers around a December 9, 2016, meeting at the Obama White House, during which, she claims, President Obama directed intelligence leaders to develop a new assessment on Russian election meddling. Gabbard alleges this direction contradicted existing intelligence conclusions and was part of a broader effort to delegitimize Trump’s win.
Allegations of Leaks and Media Manipulation
Further, Gabbard accused Obama-era officials of coordinating with media outlets to leak classified information that exaggerated Russia’s role in the 2016 election. “Obama officials immediately leaned on their allies in the media to advance their falsehoods,” she said, alleging that unnamed sources from the Intelligence Community selectively leaked details to suggest Moscow hacked the election to aid Trump.
Call for DOJ Investigation and Prosecutions
Gabbard has called for a full-scale Department of Justice investigation and prosecution of all individuals involved. “No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she said. “The American people’s trust in our democratic republic depends on it.”
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