Former President Barack Obama’s office issued a rare public statement on Tuesday, forcefully rejecting former President Donald Trump’s latest accusation that Obama and his administration committed “treason” by allegedly fabricating intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“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. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one,” the statement read. “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”
Trump Escalates Accusations
Trump reignited the long-running feud with his predecessor during a meeting in the Oval Office with the president of the Philippines, labeling Obama “the leader of the gang” behind the Russia investigation and declaring, “He’s guilty… this was treason.”
The comments came just days after a report released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard attempted to cast doubt on previous findings about Russia’s election interference. The report highlighted Obama-era emails suggesting officials knew Russia hadn’t hacked voting systems—information Trump is now using to suggest the entire Russia probe was a politically motivated hoax.
Obama Team Pushes Back
Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush pushed back, saying nothing in Gabbard’s report undermines the established consensus that Russia worked to sway the 2016 election.
“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,” Rodenbush said. “These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.”
Obama’s team also warned against twisting the facts to justify political attacks or distract from other controversies—namely, the growing pressure on Trump to release the full Jeffrey Epstein files.
Epstein Distraction Alleged
Critics, including Obama allies, argue Trump’s latest outburst is meant to deflect attention from the Epstein scandal, which continues to draw scrutiny. Trump recently requested a court unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, following a Wall Street Journal report alleging Trump once sent Epstein a provocative birthday card.
A former federal prosecutor said the move appears more about optics than substance: “It’s a stunt to make it look like he’s taking action, but it’s unlikely to result in anything meaningful.”
Legal Context: Treason and Presidential Immunity
While Trump publicly floated the idea of jailing Obama and other former officials—including Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and James Clapper—there’s no legal basis for the treason claims. The U.S. Constitution defines treason narrowly, requiring either a confession in court or testimony from two witnesses to the same overt act of aiding enemies or levying war against the United States.
Obama has never been accused of wrongdoing in the Russia investigation. In addition, a Supreme Court ruling last year protects former presidents from prosecution for official acts conducted while in office.
Republican Support and What Comes Next
House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced support for potential subpoenas, saying during a CBS interview:
“The people being called out were involved in a shameless false narrative… They knowingly lied to the American people, and there must be accountability.”
DNI Gabbard echoed that sentiment on Fox News, accusing Obama of “deflection,” along with allies still serving in Congress.
So far, the Department of Justice has not announced any investigation into Obama or his administration over the Russia probe. Whether the GOP-controlled House will move to formally subpoena the former president remains uncertain—but the political battle lines are once again sharply drawn.
