Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, sharply criticized former President Barack Obama, accusing him of deflecting attention from his administration’s “absolute failure” to properly vet intelligence that fueled the Russian collusion narrative involving the 2016 Trump campaign.
Speaking on Fox & Friends Saturday, Gabbard stated, “The treasonous conspiracy that we have now released to the American people — the complicity, the deflection, and the silence of politicians, of the mainstream media, and of those directly implicated into this speaks volumes.”
Gabbard fired back at Obama Saturday during her appearance on Fox.
On Tuesday, President Trump called for criminal charges against Obama, 63, accusing him of ordering an intelligence report that claimed Russia interfered to help Trump win the 2016 election.
Trump was referring to documents declassified last week by Gabbard.
Obama’s office responded by dismissing the claims as an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing scandal over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files.
“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 Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesman for Obama.
“But these claims are outrageous enough to merit a response. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Obama said, addressing the growing pressure on Trump to release the Epstein files.
“Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.”
During her Fox appearance, Gabbard strongly criticized Obama’s response.
“President Obama’s very carefully worded response that came from his office, again, deflects away from addressing any of the truth that was revealed,” she said.
“They would have to admit and actually address the details of their complicity in this or their absolute failure in conducting the most basic responsibilities of, again, asking, where is this intelligence coming from?”
On Friday, Gabbard sent a criminal referral against Obama to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
