Fact Check: Did Obama really make up Russia collusion ?

Fact Check: Did Obama really make up Russia collusion?

What We Know

The claim that President Obama "made up" the Russia collusion narrative stems from recent statements by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham. They allege that the Obama administration manipulated intelligence assessments to create a false narrative about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election (source-1, source-2).

According to Gabbard, prior to the election, the Intelligence Community (IC) assessed that Russia was "probably not trying … to influence the election by using cyber means" (source-1). After the election, however, a new assessment was released claiming that Russia had indeed attempted to interfere, which contradicted earlier assessments (source-2).

The narrative suggests that Obama and his administration orchestrated a "coup" against President Trump by politicizing intelligence to delegitimize his presidency (source-1). This claim has been echoed by various Republican lawmakers and media outlets, framing it as a significant abuse of power (source-2).

Analysis

The assertion that Obama "made up" the Russia collusion narrative is complex and requires careful examination of the evidence. The claims made by Gabbard and the senators rely heavily on the interpretation of intelligence assessments and the timing of their release. Critics argue that the intelligence community's assessments evolved as more information became available, particularly regarding the activities of Russian operatives (source-4).

Additionally, the narrative presented by Gabbard and others has been labeled as politically motivated, with accusations of bias against the Obama administration. For instance, a report by the New York Times highlights that the assessments were based on credible intelligence, and the subsequent conclusions about Russian interference were supported by multiple investigations, including the Mueller report, which documented extensive Russian efforts to influence the election (source-5, source-7).

Moreover, the credibility of the sources making these claims, such as Gabbard and the Republican senators, is questionable given their political affiliations and potential biases. The framing of the issue as a "hoax" has been widely criticized by independent fact-checkers and news organizations (source-8).

Conclusion

The claim that Obama "made up" the Russia collusion narrative is Partially True. While there is evidence suggesting that the intelligence assessments regarding Russian interference evolved over time, the assertion that this was a deliberate fabrication for political gain lacks sufficient substantiation. The complexities of intelligence assessments and the subsequent investigations indicate that while there may have been political motivations at play, the foundational claims of Russian interference are supported by credible evidence. Therefore, the narrative oversimplifies a multifaceted issue.

Sources

1. New Evidence of Obama Administration Conspiracy to ...
2. Cornyn, Graham Call for Special Counsel to Investigate ...
3. Press Releases - United States Senator Lindsey Graham
4. Trump's spy chief claims Obama administration ...
5. Gabbard Releases New Documents Targeting Obama ...
6. Trump's treason claims against Obama and others prompt ...
7. Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
8. Trump falsely twists Obama-era assessment of Russian election ...