Washington, D.C., July 23 (ANI): Former U.S. President Barack Obama has denied allegations from the Trump administration that he manipulated intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 election, calling the claims “bizarre” and “a weak attempt at distraction,” The Hill reported.
“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesperson for Obama, said in a statement sent to NewsNation, The Hill’s sister outlet.
“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. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio,” Rodenbush added, according to The Hill.
Last Friday, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard issued a report alleging election fraud and accusing officials of engaging in a “treasonous conspiracy.” She stated her office was turning over evidence to the Justice Department for possible criminal referrals, with the backing of then-President Donald Trump.
“He’s guilty, it’s not a question,” Trump told reporters of Obama. “This was treason, this was every word you can think of,” The Hill quoted him as saying.
Trump also claimed that several former top officials — including then-Vice President Joe Biden, former FBI Director James Comey, former DNI Director James Clapper, and former CIA Director John Brennan — could face criminal charges, The Hill reported.
The allegations stem from a memo Trump issued in March directing the declassification of all files related to “Crossfire Hurricane,” the FBI’s codename for its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The Hill noted that Trump has consistently denied Russia played any role in his 2016 campaign victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Clinton campaign were fined by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for failing to disclose spending on the investigation into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. According to a letter from the FEC, the DNC was fined $105,000, and the Clinton campaign was fined $8,000.
That investigation was led by law firm Perkins Coie, which used research from Fusion GPS. Fusion GPS later hired retired British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to investigate foreign involvement in the U.S. election, The Hill reported. (ANI)
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