Gabbard Declassifies Documents Alleging Obama-Era Manipulation of Russia Collusion Narrative

Washington, D.C. - Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has released a trove of declassified documents that challenge the origins of the Trump–Russia collusion narrative, alleging that senior Obama administration officials revised intelligence assessments after the 2016 election to support a politically motivated storyline.

The documents include excerpts from Presidential Daily Briefs, internal emails, and meeting summaries from December 2016, just weeks after Donald Trump's victory. According to the newly released materials, intelligence agencies had initially assessed that Russia lacked both the intent and capability to alter the outcome of the U.S. election through cyber means.

Key Revelations

- No Evidence of Collusion: Intelligence summaries from late 2016 stated that while Russia had an interest in undermining public confidence in the election, there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

- December 9, 2016 Meeting: Then-President Barack Obama convened a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor Susan Rice, DNI James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and others to discuss Russia's activities.

- Narrative Revision: Following the meeting, Clapper's office reportedly tasked intelligence agencies with creating a new assessment "per the President's request," focusing on Russian tools and actions used to influence the election. This led to the January 6, 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which contradicted earlier findings and asserted that Russia sought to help Trump win.

- Suppressed Dissent: The FBI initially co-authored a post-election brief stating Russia did not impact election results, but later withdrew and drafted a dissent. That version of the brief was never published.

- Steele Dossier Inclusion: The ICA reportedly incorporated elements of the Steele Dossier, despite internal concerns about its credibility. A whistleblower later revealed they were pressured to accept findings they could not verify.

Political Fallout

Gabbard has characterized the episode as a "treasonous conspiracy" and has referred the matter to the Department of Justice for review. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, have pushed back, accusing Gabbard of misrepresenting intelligence processes and undermining trust in the intelligence community.

The declassified documents have reignited partisan debate over the legitimacy of the Trump–Russia investigation and the role of intelligence agencies in shaping public narratives.