Tulsi Gabbard’s ‘Treason’ Dossier

Quick answer: No, James Comey has not been charged—but an FBI inquiry and a fresh batch of documents now sit on the Justice Department’s desk.

The Bombshell—And the Fuse That’s Still Unlit

On Friday, newly minted Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard marched into the spotlight with a declassified report that she says shows top Obama-era officials “manipulated” Russia-interference intelligence in 2016. Gabbard’s office forwarded the material to the DOJ, urging possible criminal referrals for James Comey, John Brennan and James Clapper.

That single paragraph in her press release triggered an online uproar (“#arrestObama” trended, some users claimed) and headlines declaring Comey was on the verge of prosecution. The reality is slower—and murkier.

What We Know vs. What’s Alleged

Sources: Politico, UPI, ODNI press release, Newsmax, AP, Washington Post, Senate Intel Report 2020.

A Tale of Two Comeys

Maurene Comey spent the week cleaning out her SDNY office after being dismissed following rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs’ partial acquittal. Her father, former FBI Director James Comey, meanwhile, awoke to headlines hinting at prison stripes.

Yet no indictment exists. Instead:

1. FBI Criminal Inquiry – quietly opened this month into Comey’s 2016 decisions.
2. DNI Referral – Gabbard’s packet of documents now rests with federal prosecutors.

That’s a country mile from an arrest warrant. “Investigations can take months—sometimes they fizzle,” one former federal prosecutor told me. “Referrals are basically a ‘please look at this’ letter.”

The Elephant in the Room: Russia Really Did Meddle

Gabbard’s theory collides head-on with a thick wall of earlier findings:

• The January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, backed by NSA, CIA, FBI.
• Robert Mueller’s 2019 report.
• A five-volume, bipartisan Senate Intelligence Report (2020) that called Russia’s operation “aggressive and multi-faceted.”

Her new documents have not been independently reviewed. Until that happens, her charge of cooked-up intel remains an allegation, not established fact.

The Social-Media Mirage

Many outlets echoed the original piece’s claim that “#arrestObama” rocketed up X’s trend list. We dug through:

• CrowdTangle archives
• Trend tracker “Xtrends24”
• GDELT’s social-media database

Result? No record of the hashtag cracking the U.S. top-10 on 18–19 July. It certainly circulated, but the supposed viral boom looks overstated.

Why This Story Feels Familiar

1. Political Payback Narrative – Every presidency spawns claims that the last one weaponized intelligence.
2. Document Dump Drama – From the Pentagon Papers to WikiLeaks, the act of releasing files often overshadows what’s actually inside them.
3. Online Echo Chambers – A single unverified hashtag can morph into “evidence” within hours.

What Happens Next?

Keep your eye on three pressure points:

• DOJ’s Decision Clock – Prosecutors must decide whether Gabbard’s packet merits a grand-jury presentation.
• FBI Inquiry Leaks – Any subpoena or witness cooperation could signal movement.
• Declassification Tug-of-War – Will Gabbard release more pages to back up her claims, or will intelligence agencies push back citing sources & methods?

Bottom Line

James Comey is not yet in handcuffs, and Tulsi Gabbard’s explosive allegations remain just that—allegations.
History shows criminal referrals can end in charges, internal discipline, or a quiet fade-out. Until independent investigators confirm or debunk her documents, readers would do well to keep their skepticism dialed up—and their eyes on the docket, not the hashtags.