Trump Revives Russia Investigation Grievances as Intelligence Report Seeks to Undermine 2016 Election Findings

Former President Donald Trump reignited his long-standing grievances over the Russia investigation on Tuesday, using a new intelligence report to cast doubt on well-established findings that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. election. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump repeated baseless claims that former President Barack Obama and senior officials had committed treason, declaring: “It’s time to go after people.”

Trump’s comments came as his administration continues to use federal resources to investigate individuals involved in the original Russia inquiry—efforts critics say are politically motivated and serve more to settle old scores than address national security threats.

Gabbard Report Fuels Trump’s Renewed Attacks

Trump’s remarks coincided with the release of a controversial report by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The report downplays Russian interference by emphasizing that U.S. intelligence agencies in 2016 found no evidence that Moscow had directly altered vote tallies or hacked state election systems to benefit Trump.

However, that focus omits other well-documented aspects of Russia’s interference campaign. Under Obama, intelligence agencies never claimed vote manipulation. Instead, they highlighted Russia’s extensive cyber-operations, including the theft and release of Democratic emails via WikiLeaks and a sprawling disinformation campaign on social media aimed at inflaming political divisions.

Democrats were quick to criticize the Gabbard report as misleading and politically driven. “DNI Gabbard, who pledged to depoliticize the intelligence community, is once again weaponizing her position to support the president’s conspiracy theories,” said Sen. Mark Warner, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Trump’s Endorsement of Gabbard

Despite previously criticizing Gabbard’s stance on Iran, Trump praised her on Tuesday: “She’s the hottest one in the room right now. Tulsi, great job — and I know you have a lot more coming.”

The report appeared to restore Gabbard’s standing in Trump’s circle, even as it provoked backlash from intelligence officials and lawmakers across the aisle.

Rewriting the Record: Investigations vs. Established Facts

Multiple bipartisan investigations have confirmed Russian interference in 2016. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe found that the Trump campaign welcomed Russia’s efforts, though it stopped short of establishing a criminal conspiracy. The Senate Intelligence Committee, then led by Republican Marco Rubio—now Trump’s secretary of state—corroborated those findings.

A separate review by the CIA, ordered by Director John Ratcliffe, recently reexamined the original 2017 intelligence assessment. While it noted the assessment was produced quickly, it did not refute the conclusion that Russia had interfered to help Trump.

Still, Trump continues to demand new investigations. Former CIA Director John Brennan has reportedly been referred to the Justice Department, while former FBI Director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper were also named in Trump’s renewed accusations—none of which have been substantiated.

Obama Office Responds to “Treason” Allegations

Trump’s repeated claims prompted a rare rebuttal from Obama’s office. “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” said Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush.

Trump’s accusations come despite a 2024 Supreme Court ruling shielding former presidents from prosecution for official acts while in office, making his threats against Obama legally dubious.

Epstein Question Sparks Further Deflection

Trump launched into his tirade after being asked about the Justice Department’s investigation into Ghislaine Maxwell, former associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Pressed on the inquiry, Trump dismissed it as “a witch hunt” and quickly pivoted to attacking his political rivals.

The Epstein case has sparked unrest among elements of Trump’s base, some of whom are demanding transparency about his past ties to Epstein. Trump insists he severed contact with Epstein years ago and denies any involvement in the financier’s crimes.