Fact-Check: Trump's Claims About Obama and the Russia Investigation
What We Know
Former President Donald Trump recently made a series of claims regarding the Obama administration's involvement in the Russia investigation, stating that "Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX" and alleging that "Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and numerous others participated in this, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY!" He further claimed there was "irrefutable EVIDENCE" of a conspiracy against him (source-5).
In a recent press release, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard asserted that the Obama administration "manufactured and politicized intelligence" to undermine Trump's presidency. Gabbard claimed that intelligence assessments prior to the election indicated that Russia was "probably not trying" to influence the election, contradicting later assessments that concluded otherwise (source-1). This narrative has been met with skepticism, as many experts and officials have consistently maintained that Russia did attempt to interfere in the election through various means, including disinformation campaigns (source-2).
Analysis
Trump's claims hinge on the recent assertions made by Gabbard and the selective interpretation of intelligence assessments. While Gabbard's release of documents suggests that some officials believed Russian interference might not have directly altered vote counts, it does not negate the broader consensus among intelligence agencies that Russia sought to influence the election (source-4).
Critics, including members of Congress from both parties, have labeled Gabbard's claims as politically motivated and misleading. They argue that the conclusions drawn from the intelligence community's 2017 assessment are still valid, as they focused on Russia's efforts to manipulate public perception rather than directly changing votes (source-2).
Furthermore, the credibility of Gabbard's claims is questionable, given her position as a political appointee in a Trump administration that has been criticized for its handling of intelligence and its tendency to politicize information (source-8).
Conclusion
The claim that Obama manufactured the Russia investigation and that it constitutes a "crime of the century" is Partially True. While there are elements of truth in the assertion that some intelligence assessments were politicized, the broader context shows that there is substantial evidence supporting the conclusion that Russia did attempt to interfere in the 2016 election. The narrative presented by Trump and Gabbard selectively interprets these assessments, leading to a misleading portrayal of the events surrounding the investigation.
Sources
- New Evidence of Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert ...
- Trump's spy chief claims Obama administration ...
- Trump Posts Fake Video Showing Obama Arrest
- Why the administration's latest allegations about ...
- Trump accuses Obama, Biden, Clinton of orchestrating ' ...
- Trump accuses Obama of 'treason' in the Oval Office
- Obama releases rare statement on ‘Russia-gate’ after Trump ...
- Trump falsely twists Obama-era assessment of Russian ...