Tulsi Gabbard, former Congresswoman and presidential candidate, has released documents that challenge the widely accepted narrative about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. According to these documents, which were made public by the Director of National Intelligence, the Obama administration reportedly suppressed intelligence that indicated Russian meddling did not influence the election outcome.
The documents reveal that just one day after an intelligence draft report concluded that Russia had no impact on the election results, President Obama ordered a new assessment of Russian interference. This timing has raised eyebrows and led to accusations that the Obama administration was trying to shape the narrative around the election.
Media outlets like CNN and NBC have criticized Gabbard for her claims, suggesting she is misrepresenting history. They argue that she is saying there were no Russian efforts to interfere in the election at all. However, Gabbard’s memo acknowledges that there is evidence of Russian hacking related to the Democratic National Committee, but emphasizes that intelligence officials agreed in December 2019 that Russia did not affect the election’s outcome.
For instance, a statement from then-National Intelligence Director James Clapper indicated that foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks to alter the election results. A draft from December 8, 2016, also stated that Russian actors did not impact the election through cyber activities.
Interestingly, the release of these documents coincided with a significant moment in the timeline of the Russia investigation. On December 9, 2016, Obama requested a new assessment, following reports that the CIA believed Russia intervened to help Donald Trump win. Gabbard points out that no official intelligence assessment supports this claim.
The media has also mentioned unnamed congressional sources disputing Gabbard’s assertion that the controversial Steele Dossier influenced the intelligence assessment in January 2017. However, Gabbard’s documents suggest that the dossier was indeed a factor, raising questions about the integrity of the intelligence process.
Polling data from 2018 showed that a significant number of Democrats believed Russian hacking had changed voting totals in the election. This belief was fueled by headlines and reports during the election cycle that suggested Russian involvement.
Gabbard has taken her concerns further, reportedly sending a criminal referral to the Justice Department regarding the Obama administration’s intelligence assessment. She expressed her belief that the assessment was based on manufactured intelligence aimed at undermining Trump’s presidency.
As this story unfolds, it highlights the ongoing debate over the impact of Russian interference in the 2016 election and the role of intelligence in shaping public perception.