DOJ launches ‘strike force’ to investigate Obama officials over 2016 election

The Justice Department said late Wednesday it had formed a “Strike Force” to “investigate potential next legal steps” after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released new documents about the 2016 election. 

The documents do little to suggest wrongdoing by the intelligence community in seeking to investigate Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 contest. 

But Trump administration officials have nonetheless said Obama officials should be held accountable, while President Trump accused the 44th president of being guilty of treason in connection with the incident. 

“The Department of Justice is proud to work with my friend Director Gabbard and we are grateful for her partnership in delivering accountability for the American people. We will investigate these troubling disclosures fully and leave no stone unturned to deliver justice,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 

Gabbard recently released two sets of previously classified documents she said show “what was essentially a years-long coup” and a “treasonous conspiracy” against Trump.

However, an 11-page memo Friday detailed internal discussions showing Russia was unable to affect any vote totals. That doesn’t contradict the assessment at the time. Obama officials said shortly after the election that Russia was unable to hack voting systems. 

Much of the intelligence investigation was instead focused on Russia’s massive social media campaign to influence voters and sway them towards Trump.

On Monday, Gabbard released a previously classified report compiled by House Intelligence Republicans who disputed that Russian President Vladimir Putin favored Trump.

While the bulk of intelligence assessments determined Putin played a role and wanted to aid Trump, the House report led by then-Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), a Trump ally, found the CIA “did not adhere to the tenets” of analytical standards when reaching the conclusion.

The formation of the task force comes as Trump has made clear his desire for his administration to investigate Obama.

Obama’s office issued a rare public statement calling the move a “distraction” as Trump faces increasing calls to release information about the prosecution of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” an Obama spokesperson said. 

“But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence under Obama, on an appearance on CNN Wednesday, said the accusations were “patently false and unfounded” and that Obama never directed them to reach any specific conclusion on the matter.

He also noted that multiple assessments backed the conclusion the intelligence community made about the 2016 election.

“The Senate Intelligence Committee did an exhaustive examination of the totality of Russian engagement in this country, focusing specifically on the intelligence community assessment that we did and released in January of ’17, and they endorsed the findings, the tradecraft used to derive those findings and the confidence levels,” he said.

“And no less than then-Sen. [Marco] Rubio, now-Secretary of State Rubio, who was then, I believe, acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, made that observation himself in — when that report — redacted version of that report was released.”

Democrats have blasted Gabbard for releasing information they say does not back her claims.

“They’re trying to dispute the proper conclusions of the intelligence community that the Russians were trying to influence the 2016 election by saying they didn’t successfully change votes in the machines,” said Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who chaired the House Intelligence Committee at the time the GOP side of the committee was working on their report.

“No one is claiming they did, so they’re being dishonest, and it’s such a disservice to the American people that Americans can’t really trust the leaders of the intelligence community honestly anymore.”

This story was updated at 11:07 a.m.