Uncovering the Russiagate Plot: A Threat to Democracy

In a recent interview, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard shed light on a troubling episode in U.S. history. She discussed the revocation of security clearances for 37 intelligence officials linked to the 2017 Russiagate scandal.

A Seditious Conspiracy

Gabbard described the events as a "seditious conspiracy." She explained that before the 2016 election, intelligence agencies agreed that Russia aimed to create chaos, but they found no evidence that Russia favored one candidate over another.

The Shift in Narrative

The narrative changed after the election. In December 2016, President Obama called a meeting with his national security team. This meeting led to a new intelligence assessment, which claimed that Russia interfered to help Trump win. The assessment relied on weak intelligence and the controversial Steele dossier.

Criticism of the Steele Dossier

Gabbard criticized the use of the Steele dossier, pointing out that intelligence professionals knew it was politically motivated and unreliable. Despite this, top officials like John Brennan and James Clapper used it to support their claims.

Consequences of the Assessment

The new assessment became the foundation for multiple investigations, including:

• The Mueller probe
• Two impeachment trials
• The Mar-a-Lago raid

Gabbard argued that these actions undermined the will of the American people, who had elected Trump.

The Real Crime

She emphasized that the real crime was against democracy. The intelligence officials involved broke the trust placed in them by the public. Gabbard also noted that some of these officials had their security clearances revoked under President Trump's direction.