Did Tulsi Gabbard Just Drop a Bombshell on Clapper and the Intel Elite?
This week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard delivered what could become her defining moment since being confirmed earlier this year. After cleaning house and setting up a watchdog initiative inside ODNI, she took her first major public swing—dropping claims that would echo back through history.
1. Reopening Russiagate
In a bold move, Gabbard declassified a report alleging that President Obama and key national security officials—including James Clapper, John Brennan, and James Comey—manipulated intelligence assessments surrounding Russian interference in the 2016 election. She asserted that this helped shape a false narrative aimed at delegitimizing Trump’s victory.
Director of National Intelligence+1
Gabbard argued these actions formed a “years-long coup against President Trump”, stating they suppressed contrary intel and promoted falsehoods for political advantage.
Director of National Intelligence
2. Criminal Referrals and Grand Jury Action
Acting on Gabbard’s disclosures, Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a grand jury probe into the matter, focusing on the origins of the Russia-Trump investigation—including FBI surveillance and FISA warrants authorized on flimsy grounds.
ReutersThe Times of India
3. Fact-Checkers Raise Doubts
Independent evaluator FactCheck.org flagged Gabbard’s claim as potentially misleading. Their analysis suggests the “coup” narrative is an overreach—some evidence exists that Obama’s team emphasized Russian interference, but it doesn’t conclusively support claims of manipulation designed to overthrow Trump’s legitimacy.
FactCheck.org
4. Intel Community Pushback
A former senior CIA officer, Susan Miller, himself refuted Gabbard’s portrayal. He argued her description of events misrepresents his team’s judgments on Russian interference, which were supported by multiple verified sources.
The Guardian
5. Political Context & Internal Shake-Up
Since taking office in February 2025, Gabbard has overseen sharp restructuring at ODNI—firing or sidelining officials viewed as misaligned with Trump’s priorities, launching investigations into intelligence leaks, and advocating for transparency and cost-cutting reforms.
The Washington PostODNI
6. The Fallout and What’s Next
Gabbard’s revelations mark a high-stakes escalation in intelligence politics. Critics accuse her of turning the ODNI into a partisan arm. Supporters argue she brought overdue accountability.
Meanwhile, the grand jury probe looms. If it gains momentum, we could see subpoenas—and perhaps even indictments—of once-untouchable officials.
Final Take:
This isn’t just a plot twist—it’s history being rewritten in real time. A sitting DNI is blaming former intelligence leaders for potentially sabotaging the presidency itself. Whether you see Gabbard as a reformer or a rogue, her actions this week have set a new standard for what transparency—and turbulence—look like in the corridors of power.
