Investigating Methods Used by Obama Administration in Dealing with Russian Interference in U.S. Elections
The White House has announced plans for a thorough investigation into the actions of former government officials regarding potential interference in the 2016 election. The decision comes in response to the revelations made by Intelligence Chief John Ratcliffe, who has declassified several documents on potential Russian interference in recent weeks.
Ratcliffe's investigations and public statements allege that the Obama administration and some intelligence officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director James Comey, engaged in the manufacture and politicization of intelligence related to Russian interference. He claims there is evidence of a criminal conspiracy against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, suggesting wrongdoing that could be construed as treasonous or criminal behavior.
However, these claims have been met with significant skepticism. The original 2016 Intelligence Community assessment affirmed Russian interference but did not indicate that the interference changed the election outcome. Ratcliffe’s declassification and interpretation of internal CIA documents have been criticized as partisan and contrary to the original intelligence findings. Officially, no conclusive evidence has been publicly produced that proves manipulation of intelligence or treason by Obama administration officials.
Key points include:
- Ratcliffe declassified an internal CIA “lessons learned” review, which he presented as evidence of misconduct by former intelligence leaders, but this document was intended for internal use and is considered dry and not supportive of his claims by independent analysts.
- Ratcliffe has suggested that Hillary Clinton, Brennan, and others could face prosecution for criminal conspiracy tied to the origins of the Russia investigation.
- Documents declassified under Ratcliffe and others have been interpreted to show that some intelligence assessments close to the 2016 election downplayed Russian influence efforts, which contrasts with the later publicly accepted narrative.
- A criminal investigation reportedly opened by the FBI into Brennan and Comey based on referrals involving alleged wrongdoing has been noted, but the full details and outcomes remain unclear.
The White House aims to provide Americans with the truth about how former government officials acted to harm the Trump administration and undermine the will of the American people. The investigation is intended to uncover any attempts to undermine the Constitution.
Notably, the Obama administration responded with a rare public statement, calling the investigation into potential Russian interference a distraction from Trump's calls to disclose information about the prosecution of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The report did not confirm collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also ordered the Justice Department to investigate how Obama administration officials handled data on potential Russian interference in the 2016 election. The investigation is expected to shed light on the allegations made by Ratcliffe and provide clarity on the matter.
The White House's investigation into potential interference in the 2016 election involves a review of policy-and-legislation and politics, particularly focusing on war-and-conflicts, as Intelligence Chief John Ratcliffe's allegations against former officials like John Brennan and James Comey hint at a criminal conspiracy tied to Russia. General-news coverage has been dominated by the skepticism surrounding Ratcliffe's claims and the lack of conclusive evidence, with some documents declassified under Ratcliffe being criticized as partisan. The investigation aims to uncover any attempts to undermine the Constitution and provide Americans with the truth, while Attorney General Pam Bondi has initiated a separate investigation into how Obama administration officials handled data on Russian interference.
