Gabbard’s “Treason” File: Real Report, Loud Accusations, Zero Indictments—So Far
Short answer: Yes, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard really did declassify a report claiming senior Obama-era officials twisted 2016 Russia intel—and she really has sent boxes of material to the Justice Department.
But no one has been charged, prior bipartisan investigations still say Moscow did interfere in the election, and several viral side-claims in the original story melt under scrutiny.
Read on for what’s verified, what’s hype, and why the saga is only getting messier.
1. The Friday Surprise: How a Surfing Ex-Congresswoman Became America’s Top Spy
Gabbard, sworn in as DNI only five months ago, strode to the ODNI podium on 18 July 2025. Cameras rolled as she declared that officials once trusted with the nation’s secrets—James Clapper, John Brennan, James Comey—had engaged in a “treasonous conspiracy.”
Within minutes, social-feeds erupted. “Lock them up!” memes popped up next to doctored mugshots. One blog even wrote that a hashtag calling for #ArrestObama topped X’s trending list.
What checks out
- The report exists. You can read the 73-page PDF posted to the ODNI site.
– Source: dni.gov - Gabbard’s wording is as explosive as advertised.
– Source: Politico
What doesn’t
- Trending hashtag: No independent tracker shows #ArrestObama in the U.S. Top 20 that day. Could it have trended in a niche corner? Maybe. But the big data say no proof.
- Immediate prosecutions: DOJ says only “reviewing.” No subpoenas, no grand-jury filing, no charges.
2. “Treason” Meets the Paper Trail: Three Years of Prior Evidence Ignored
Here’s the tension at the heart of the story:
- 2019 Mueller Report and 2020 bipartisan Senate Intel Report both concluded Russia interfered to help Donald Trump.
- Gabbard’s new document calls those findings “manufactured and politicized.”
In other words, America’s official 2019-2020 record and America’s official 2025 record now point in opposite directions.
Which set of officials is right? We don’t know yet—and that’s why DOJ’s reaction matters.
3. James Comey: Criminal Target or Click-Bait?
The original article framed Comey as practically on the brink of indictment. Reality check:
- Speculative. Gabbard asked DOJ to decide whether crimes occurred—full stop.
- No formal probe announced. Reporters scanned PACER, courthouse calendars, press dockets. Nothing.
Verdict: Comey may be in legal jeopardy—or he may never see the inside of a courtroom. Anyone claiming certainty is reading tea leaves.
4. Side Plot: Maurene Comey, Diddy, and a Pink Slip
The story dragged in Maurene Comey (James Comey’s daughter), hinting she was fired for botching a trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Facts:
- Fired? Yes, she’s out. DOJ offered no explanation.
– Source: AP - Total courtroom loss? No. Jury acquitted on racketeering and trafficking but convicted Diddy on two prostitution-transport counts.
– Source: ABC News
The connection between her firing and the split verdict is unproven.
5. Missing Context the Viral Piece Skipped
-
Political pushback: Democratic intel veterans, plus some Republicans, label Gabbard’s report “thinly sourced” or “campaign fodder.”
– Source: Sen. Mark Warner interview -
Timing and distractions: Yes, the same news cycle featured Attorney-General Pam Bondi’s move to unseal Epstein archives, fueling talk of diversion.
6. Where the Story Goes From Here
-
DOJ Decision Clock
• Investigators must decide whether Gabbard’s files meet the threshold for a special counsel or standard criminal probe. -
Hill Hearings
• Expect dueling subpoenas: House Republicans crave a public show; Senate Democrats promise a “forensic audit” of Gabbard’s methods. -
Intel Community Whiplash
• Current analysts are stuck between two contradictory official histories. Watch for whistleblower filings—or resignations.
7. Boiling It Down: What’s Solid, What’s Shaky
Confirmed
• Gabbard is DNI and released the report
• She accused Clapper, Brennan, Comey of a “treasonous conspiracy”
• Documentation has been forwarded to DOJ
Unconfirmed
• Any criminal probe, indictment, or arrest
• #ArrestObama trending
• Reason Maurene Comey was fired
Contradicted or Misleading
• Claim that Diddy trial was a total acquittal
• Certainty that Comey “will face prosecution”
• Implication that 2016 Russian interference was “wholly fabricated” (ignored earlier bipartisan findings)
8. Why This Matters Beyond Partisan Blood Sport
If Gabbard’s files truly reveal intelligence fraud at the highest level, that’s Watergate on steroids.
If, instead, the new report cherry-picks data to serve present-day politics, it could erode trust in every future intel assessment—from cyber threats to foreign wars.
Either way, the fight now shifts from cable-news panels to DOJ case files. We’ll keep digging—and when the next batch of documents surface, you’ll read it here first.