Gabbard: Obama Launched ‘Years-Long Coup,’ ‘Treasonous Conspiracy’ Against American People

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Wednesday that former President Barack Obama began a “years-long coup” against the American people by directing a fake intelligence assessment on Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Gabbard made the accusation during a press briefing at the White House. Asked about Obama’s culpability in the Russian collusion conspiracy that dogged President Donald Trump during his first term, Gabbard said the conspiracy started with Obama.

“The evidence that we have found and that we have released directly points to President Obama leading the manufacturing of this intelligence assessment,” said Gabbard, referring to an assessment issued by Obama’s intelligence officials roughly two weeks before Trump took office in January 2017.

Gabbard released an initial tranche of documents and emails surrounding the origins of the intelligence assessment last week. She followed up with another release of documents on Wednesday.

The national intelligence director said she has referred the evidence that her team has collected to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.

“I am not an attorney, but as I have said previously, when you look at the intent behind creating a fake, manufactured intelligence document that directly contradicts multiple assessments that were created by the intelligence community, the expressed intent and what followed afterward can only be described as a years-long coup and a treasonous conspiracy against the American people, our republic, and an attempt to undermine President Trump’s administration,” said Gabbard when asked about the potential of specific crimes Obama may have committed.

Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush issued a statement from the former president’s office on Tuesday in response to accusations stemming from intelligence found in the first tranche of documents. Gabbard, Trump, and others said that Obama conspired to create a fake intelligence assessment to undermine Trump’s incoming administration.

“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,” said Rodenbush. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Gabbard ripped into the statement issued on behalf of the former president, and said he and others denying their roles in the Russia collusion hoax are “doing a disservice to the American people in trying to deflect away from their culpability in what is a historic scandal and negative action towards the American people and our democratic republic.”