The Department of Justice (DOJ) has made a significant request to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for additional information regarding allegations of a 2016 conspiracy to link President Donald Trump to Russia. The move marks the latest step in the DOJ’s ongoing grand jury investigation into the matter.
According to The Federalist, a DOJ prosecutor sent a formal request to the ODNI seeking a broad range of documents. The request follows Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s recent call for the DOJ to investigate Obama administration officials over the alleged scheme. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the report’s accuracy to Fox News Digital.
The prosecutor’s letter to the ODNI reportedly sought a dozen categories of records, including nonpublic material related to the set of declassified documents Gabbard released in July.
Gabbard revealed on The Ingraham Angle that she met with DOJ prosecutors involved in the grand jury probe earlier this week. She said they “have more questions” and are preparing to “take a deep dive into this again.”
“They are committed to leaving no stone unturned as they conduct this grand jury investigation and find the truth,” Gabbard stated.
The fact that DOJ prosecutors are directly seeking records from the ODNI indicates the inquiry is now in a critical information-gathering phase.
Grand jury proceedings are conducted in secret and can last from days to months. Prosecutors present evidence to jurors, who then decide whether probable cause exists to charge someone with a crime. While securing an indictment from a grand jury is generally easier than winning a conviction, the process still requires substantial evidence.
Fox News Digital first reported the existence of this grand jury investigation on Monday. It remains unclear who the potential targets are or what specific criminal charges—if any—could still be pursued within the statute of limitations.
Gabbard has alleged that newly declassified documents show former President Barack Obama and top national security officials—John Brennan, James Comey, and James Clapper—circumvented standard intelligence protocols to create a flawed intelligence report after President Trump’s 2016 victory. She claims this report laid the “groundwork” for the Trump-Russia narrative that overshadowed much of Trump’s first term.
While two lengthy special counsel investigations examined Russian interference in the 2016 election, neither concluded there was a conspiracy among Obama administration officials resembling what Gabbard now alleges.
The DOJ’s recent request to the ODNI also sought information about intelligence community probes into media leaks, suggesting that alleged leaks may be part of the grand jury’s scope. Gabbard has claimed the media received information from the Obama administration that helped shape a false public perception that Russia was responsible for Trump’s win.
In response to Gabbard’s claims, Obama issued a rare public rebuttal through a spokesperson, dismissing the allegations outright.
“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,” the statement read. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”
