Yes — Tulsi Gabbard really did hand Obama-era names to the DOJ. But the internet’s wilder side claims more than the documents do.
On 18 July 2025, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a stack of declassified emails and told reporters she was forwarding evidence to the Justice Department for “potential prosecution” of James Clapper, John Brennan and James Comey.
That part is confirmed.
Everything else — from “#arrestObama” supposedly trending to why Maurene Comey just lost her job — ranges from half-true to pure guesswork. Below, we separate the solid steel from the rumor-plated chrome.
The Verified Bombshell
What Gabbard actually did
- 100-plus pages of 2016 intelligence reports and emails were declassified.
- Gabbard accused Obama-era leaders of “manufacturing and politicizing intelligence” about Russian interference.
- She sent the material to the DOJ for review and possible criminal referrals.
- Sources: New York Post, Washington Examiner.
Key takeaway
This is not just political theatre; the Justice Department has opened a probe into at least one of the officials named (Comey). Whether it ends with indictments is another story.
What’s Still Up in the Air
1. Will James Comey Be Indicted?
- DOJ has an active investigation, but no charges to date.
- Until a grand jury acts, talk of prosecution is speculative.
2. Did “#arrestObama” Really Trend?
- No reputable trend-tracking service logged that hashtag in the U.S. top 20 on 18–19 July.
- The only article claiming it trended is the original TMZ-style piece we’re correcting.
- Verdict: Unverified — and likely exaggerated.
3. Maurene Comey’s Sudden Firing
- Fact: DOJ did fire Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey on 16 July.
- Missing nuance:
– The dismissal notice gave no public reason.
– Prosecutors lost the major racketeering and trafficking counts against Sean “Diddy” Combs, but did win two lesser Mann-Act convictions. - Linking her firing to the trial outcome remains guesswork.
The Cross-Currents You May Have Missed
Timing is everything
Gabbard’s release hit the wires as the second-term Trump Administration was taking heat for a limited unsealing of Jeffrey Epstein grand-jury files. Critics accuse the White House of selective transparency — offering just enough secrecy-busting to wound political foes, not allies. (Source: Politico)
Political déjà vu
If the names Clapper, Brennan, and Comey give you 2017 flashbacks, you’re not alone. Yet the investigator driving today’s headlines — Tulsi Gabbard — was once a Democratic congresswoman who resigned from the DNC in protest of 2016 primary shenanigans. Now, as Trump’s DNI, she’s flipping the script on her old party.
How We Checked the Claims
- Cross-referenced Senate confirmation records and mainstream wire stories to verify Gabbard’s position.
- Compared the declassified documents’ release date with contemporaneous coverage from ideologically diverse outlets.
- Used CrowdTangle, Trendogate and archived X “trending” screenshots to hunt for #arrestObama — none showed the tag.
- Pulled the federal court docket in U.S. v. Combs to confirm verdicts, then matched that with DOJ personnel notices.
- Reviewed DOJ press briefings for any charging documents against James Comey — none filed as of publication.
Transparency note: If new filings or trend-data emerge, we’ll update this piece.
What Happens Next
- The DOJ must decide whether the newly declassified material crosses the line from political abuse of intelligence to criminal conduct.
- If prosecutors seek indictments, the case would almost certainly collide with a presidential election calendar already thick with trials.
- Watch for: grand-jury leaks (they shouldn’t exist, but they will), subpoena battles over classified sources, and a public argument about whether “treason” applies outside wartime.
Bottom Line
Tulsi Gabbard really did name names and ship documents to the DOJ.
Everything after that — Obama hashtags, Comey indictments, revenge firings — ranges from unverified to outright wrong. Read beyond the viral headline; the truth is dramatic enough without the extra clickbait.