Tulsi Gabbard Addresses Allegations Against Obama in Press Briefing

On October 25, 2023, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard held a press briefing at the White House, focusing on allegations that officials from the Obama administration misled the public regarding intelligence on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This rare appearance highlighted the administration’s intent to address claims leveled against former President Barack Obama and his intelligence team.

Key Findings from the House Intelligence Committee Report

Gabbard’s remarks coincided with the release of a previously classified report by the House Intelligence Committee. Originally drafted in 2017 and published in 2020, the report contained significant findings regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s objectives during the 2016 election. Gabbard stated that the report concluded Putin’s primary aim was to “undermine faith in the U.S. democratic process” rather than support a specific candidate.

She noted, “In fact, this report shows Putin held back leaking compromising material on Hillary Clinton prior to the election, instead planning to release it after the election to weaken what Moscow viewed as an inevitable Clinton presidency.” Gabbard argued that the report criticized the CIA for failing to adhere to proper analytic standards, asserting that the conclusion suggesting Putin acted to benefit then-candidate Donald Trump was based on “one scant, unclear, and unverifiable fragment of a sentence from one of the substandard reports.”

Despite Gabbard’s claims, critics swiftly dismissed the report as inconsistent with established findings from the intelligence community. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, characterized the report as politically motivated, stating, “Nothing in this partisan, previously scuttled document changes that.”

Implications for Former President Obama

During the briefing, Gabbard mentioned Obama’s name multiple times, suggesting he was complicit in misleading the public. When questioned about potential criminal implications for Obama, she stated, “We have referred and will continue to refer all of these documents to the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate the criminal implications of this.”

Gabbard elaborated, claiming, “The evidence that we have found and that we have released directly points to President Obama leading the manufacturing of this intelligence assessment.” In response, Obama’s spokesperson, Patrick Rodenbush, issued a statement rejecting the allegations as “outrageous” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”

Despite the intense scrutiny, the document did not undermine the consensus that Russia attempted to influence the election, a conclusion supported by a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report. This earlier investigation found that while Russia sought to meddle in the election, it did not succeed in altering any votes.

Questions on Accountability and Political Motivations

Gabbard and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced inquiries regarding the potential consequences for Obama, particularly whether he could face charges related to his administration’s handling of Russian interference. Gabbard remarked, “I’m leaving the criminal charges to the DOJ. I’m not an attorney,” despite having previously described the Obama administration’s actions as a “treasonous conspiracy.”

Leavitt maintained that accountability is in the hands of the Justice Department, stating, “The president has made it clear that he wanted these documents to be declassified. He wants those who perpetuated these lies to be held accountable.”

Questions arose about the credibility of Gabbard’s allegations, particularly since Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had supported the previous findings regarding Russian interference. While Leavitt acknowledged Rubio’s concerns about Russian actions, she sidestepped direct inquiries about the implications of his earlier positions.

As discussions continued, Gabbard reiterated her commitment to transparency, asserting that her actions were in the interest of the American public. She stated, “I think it’s a disservice to the American people that former President Obama’s office and others who are criticizing the transparency… are doing a disservice to the American people in trying to deflect away from their culpability in what is a historic scandal.”

The press briefing has reignited debates surrounding the intelligence community’s integrity and the implications of the allegations being made against former administration officials. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on the accountability of those involved in the handling of intelligence during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.