President Donald Trump issued a forceful call on Tuesday for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate former President Barack Obama.
Trump accused Obama of orchestrating a comprehensive scheme to manipulate intelligence concerning Russian interference in the 2016 election, which he described as a “treasonous conspiracy” aimed at undermining his presidency before it began.
While meeting in the Oval Office with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Trump was questioned about whom the DOJ should target in light of new revelations from Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.
He wasted no time pointing at his predecessor.
“Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people,” Trump stated, per the New York Post.
“It’s criminal at the highest level.”
This statement follows the release last Friday of a report by Gabbard, who declassified documents suggesting that officials in the Obama administration may have deliberately misrepresented intelligence about Russian election interference.
According to Trump, the materials outline a coordinated effort by senior intelligence officials—including then-Vice President Joe Biden, FBI Director James Comey, DNI James Clapper and CIA Director John Brennan—to derail his incoming administration.
“If you look at those papers, they have him stone-cold… It wasn’t lots of people all over the place, it was them,” Trump said, according to The Hill. “They tried to steal the election. They tried to obfuscate the election.”
Gabbard has referred these findings to the DOJ, urging a criminal investigation into what she calls a direct attack on democratic processes, as Resist the Mainstream reported on Sunday.
Trump, who authorized the declassification of all files related to the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” probe earlier this year, indicated that more evidence is forthcoming.
He revealed that Gabbard informed him of “thousands of additional documents” set to be made public, which he believes will further support calls for accountability.
“This was treason, this was every word you could think of,” Trump added. “They got caught, and there should be very severe consequences for that.”
Reaffirming his long-held view, Trump reiterated that the Russia investigation was a politically motivated attack launched by the Obama administration.
He also referenced Hillary Clinton, acknowledging he once chose not to pursue charges against her because she was a former first lady—but now suggested that era of leniency should end.
When asked about reports that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche contacted attorneys representing Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump diverted attention back to the Gabbard documents.
“The witch hunt that you should be talking about if they caught President Obama absolutely cold, Tulsi Gabbard,” he said.
“What they did to this country in 2016, starting in 2016 but going up all the way going up to 2020 and the election, they tried to rig the election and they got caught and they should be very severe consequences for that.”
The revelations have reignited debate over the use of intelligence agencies in domestic politics, with growing calls for transparency and accountability.
While it’s unclear what legal steps may follow, Trump made clear he expects serious consequences for those involved.
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