No, Obama-era officials have not been charged with treason—yet
Tulsi Gabbard’s new intelligence report is explosive, but the evidence is still under fierce debate. Here’s what we really know.
The short answer
• Are James Comey, John Brennan or James Clapper about to be perp-walked?
No. The Justice Department has not filed any charges. All we have so far is Tulsi Gabbard’s promise to hand over documents and an FBI inquiry that may—or may not—lead to indictments later.
Keep reading and you’ll see why the story is both more dramatic and more uncertain than the viral headlines suggest.
Act I – The Bombshell That Shook Washington
On 18 July 2025, Tulsi Gabbard—yes, the former congresswoman who became Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in February—de-classified a 46-page report accusing the Obama White House of “manipulating” Russia-interference data in 2016.
She called the alleged scheme a “treasonous conspiracy” and vowed to send her files to the Justice Department so “the American people can finally have accountability.”
(Politico)
Cue the internet frenzy:
- #ArrestObama posts mushroomed on fringe X accounts.
- Cable shows booked back-to-back guests yelling “Watergate on steroids.”
- A meme of Brennan in orange jumpsuit racked up a million views before breakfast.
But beneath that noise, something crucial was missing: proof that any prosecutor has agreed with Gabbard.
Act II – The Wall of Counter-Evidence
Remember the 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report? It unanimously validated the original Intelligence Community finding that Russia meddled to help Donald Trump.
(Washington Post)
That document is now Exhibit A for lawmakers—Democrats and several Republicans—who say Gabbard’s new claims simply don’t line up with previously vetted evidence.
Key contradiction
• Gabbard alleges intelligence “manipulation.”
• The 2020 Senate panel found no manipulation and, in fact, praised the analysts for resisting political pressure.
Someone, obviously, is wrong.
Act III – Where the Legal Rubber Meets the Road
What Gabbard has actually done
- De-classified her report.
- Announced she is forwarding “voluminous records” to the DOJ.
- Repeated the phrase “treasonous conspiracy” three times for emphasis.
What has not happened
• No grand jury subpoenas or indictments for Clapper, Brennan, or Comey.
• No DOJ press conference.
• No public confirmation that the alleged crimes even fall under the federal treason statute (which is notoriously hard to prosecute).
At most, we have an FBI inquiry into whether Brennan or Comey lied to Congress—still a long way from treason.
(Daily Beast)
Act IV – The Side Plot Everyone Missed: Maurene Comey’s Bad Week
Just two days before Gabbard’s report dropped, prosecutors quietly fired Maurene Comey—James Comey’s daughter and a respected SDNY attorney.
(Washington Post)
Social media instantly mashed the two stories together:
- “They canned Maurene so Dad can’t get inside info!”
- “Deep-state purge!”
Facts, however, are less cinematic:
- Maurene lost a high-profile case against Sean “Diddy” Combs; jurors acquitted him on sex-trafficking and racketeering but convicted on lesser counts.
(Time) - DOJ has never stated that verdict was the reason for her firing.
- Linking her dismissal to Gabbard’s accusations is pure speculation.
What’s Verified vs. What’s Up in the Air
Solid ground
- Tulsi Gabbard is the current DNI.
- She published a report accusing Obama-era officials.
- She promises criminal referrals.
- Maurene Comey was fired on 16 July.
- The Trump administration is catching heat over its limited Epstein-file releases.
Quicksand
- Any claim that DOJ has opened treason cases. (No evidence)
- That Obama-era intelligence was proven “manipulated.” (Strongly disputed)
- That #ArrestObama verifiably trended in X’s top 10. (Unconfirmed)
- That Maurene Comey’s firing is retaliation or connected to her father’s legal peril. (No hard proof)
Why This Matters
If Gabbard’s documents hold up, they could rewrite a major chapter of recent American history and send former spy-chiefs to court.
If they collapse under scrutiny, the episode will become another cautionary tale about sensational leaks and partisan echo chambers.
Either way, the next moves belong to:
- The Justice Department, which must decide whether Gabbard’s folders merit a criminal probe.
- Congress, where both intelligence committees now want to compare Gabbard’s evidence with the 2020 Senate report.
- The public, tasked with sorting fact from fevered tweet—again.
How We Verified This Story
• Cross-checked Gabbard’s quotes with Politico and The Guardian.
• Reviewed the 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee findings.
• Tracked DOJ and FBI statements (or lack thereof).
• Consulted court records for the Combs trial.
• Monitored X’s trending data—no mainstream confirmation of #ArrestObama spike.
Uncertainties remain: Gabbard’s underlying documents are only partly de-classified; the FBI probe is sealed; DOJ never comments on pending matters. We will keep digging.
Bottom line
The “treason” headlines are gripping but premature. No arrests, no indictments, no courtroom dates—yet. Until prosecutors act or independent investigators corroborate Gabbard’s claims, the story sits in constitutional limbo: explosive allegation meets unanswered evidence.
Stay tuned. Washington’s summer thriller has just begun, and Act V is still unwritten.