Former Congresswoman and current Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has ignited a political firestorm with explosive claims surrounding the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In a recent televised interview, Gabbard stated that multiple whistleblowers from within the intelligence community have stepped forward following the release of previously classified documents and a public memo issued by her office last week. According to Gabbard, the evidence points to a calculated and coordinated effort by members of the Obama administration to discredit and potentially unseat President-elect Donald Trump after his victory over Hillary Clinton.
Speaking on Sunday Morning Futures with host Maria Bartiromo, Gabbard did not mince words. “These documents have prompted whistleblowers to come forward,” she said. “They were there. They saw what happened. And many of them were sickened by it.” She described the alleged scheme as a “years-long coup attempt,” asserting that it was aimed at reversing the outcome of a democratic election.
According to Gabbard, those now coming forward from within the intelligence apparatus claim to have firsthand knowledge of a politically motivated operation that went far beyond policy disagreements or routine bureaucratic friction. Instead, she characterized it as “a treasonous conspiracy,” driven by a refusal to accept the results of the 2016 election. Gabbard also indicated that her office is compiling both documents and testimony to submit directly to the Department of Justice.
“This cannot be ignored,” she continued. “There must be indictments. I don’t care how high up the chain these individuals are or what roles they once held. If they tried to subvert the will of the American people, they need to face consequences.”
Her remarks have drawn renewed attention to the long-running investigation spearheaded by Special Counsel John Durham. That probe, originally launched to examine the origins of the FBI’s Russia investigation into the Trump campaign, produced a high-profile outcome in 2020 when former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith admitted to altering evidence used to secure a FISA warrant against Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Though Clinesmith received a sentence of probation and community service, the case raised serious concerns about the integrity of federal surveillance practices during a politically charged time.
Critics argued that Clinesmith’s lenient sentencing reflected a broader reluctance to hold intelligence officials accountable for missteps during the 2016 election cycle. Gabbard’s statements appear to echo that frustration and signal a renewed push for broader transparency and legal reckoning.
Gabbard emphasized that her team is continuing to review documents and is in ongoing communication with additional intelligence community members who may be willing to share their stories. She stated that every new piece of testimony is being documented and prepared for legal scrutiny.
As of now, no official response has been issued by the Obama Foundation or by any former Obama administration officials named or implicated in the emerging documents. However, political analysts expect that silence may not last long, particularly if further evidence surfaces or if the Department of Justice acts on Gabbard’s submissions.
The situation is developing rapidly, and the political ramifications could be significant. Should the DOJ take up the matter, it may open a new chapter in the long and divisive saga of Russiagate, surveillance abuse, and claims of partisan overreach in the halls of power. What began as quiet whispers from within the intelligence world may now be growing into a chorus calling for accountability at the highest levels of government.
For Tulsi Gabbard, a figure who has often positioned herself as a political outsider and truth-teller regardless of party lines, this appears to be a defining moment. Her actions have already sparked fresh debate about transparency, power, and justice—and they may just reshape how America understands what really happened in the chaotic months following the 2016 election.