Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to convene a grand jury to investigate claims that members of the Obama administration fabricated intelligence tying Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign to Russian interference, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The move comes on the heels of a referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who in July declassified a set of documents she says call into question the intelligence community’s findings on Russian election meddling. Gabbard has requested that the Justice Department investigate former President Barack Obama and his senior officials for alleged misconduct.
In response, Bondi announced the creation of a Justice Department “strike force” tasked with reviewing the declassified material and determining whether legal action is warranted. The grand jury now being formed will have the authority to issue subpoenas and, if prosecutors decide to proceed, could consider criminal indictments.
“The strike force will follow the evidence wherever it leads,” Bondi said in a brief statement. The Justice Department has otherwise declined to comment on the matter.
CNN and other outlets have reported that Gabbard’s allegations mischaracterise the original conclusions drawn by the US intelligence community. Declassified material released last month does not fundamentally challenge the 2017 assessment that Russia sought to interfere in the election, primarily to damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Gabbard has insisted that the Russian objective was to erode public trust in American institutions rather than explicitly boost Trump. Critics argue that her interpretation is selective and politically motivated.
The announcement marks a new chapter in the long-running partisan dispute over the legitimacy of the Russia investigation and could reignite tensions as the 2026 campaign season approaches.
