Tulsi Gabbard continues deep state purge by revoking security clearances for 37 officials tied to Russiagate
Tulsi Gabbard continued her purge of the deep state, revoking security clearances of 37 Obama-linked officials tied to the infamous Russiagate hoax.
The move by the director of national intelligence was Trump’s latest act of retribution against federal officials who worked under Democrats.
Gabbard accused the officials of having engaged in the ‘politicization or weaponization of intelligence’ to advance partisan goals.
Many of the officials who were singled out left the government years ago and served in a broad range of roles, including in senior positions and lower-profile roles far from the public eye.
Some have been openly critical of Trump and some worked on the intelligence community assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election on Trump’s behalf.
When The Daily Mail reached out for comment, the Office of the DNI directed us to a lengthy statement from Gabbard.
‘Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,’ she said.
The Trump official also claimed some in the intelligence community betrayed ‘their oath to the Constitution.’ She did not provide any evidence.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told The Daily Mail in a statement that Gabbard has Trump’s full support.
Tulsi Gabbard continued her purge of the deep state, revoking security clearances of 37 Obama-linked officials tied to the infamous Russiagate hoax which she has called a ‘treasonous conspiracy’
It comes just weeks after Gabbard accused Obama of treason and Donald Trump suggested AG Pam Bondi could prosecute him
‘President Trump promised to end the weaponization of government against American citizens which is why Director Gabbard rightfully directed the revocation of 37 security clearances from current and former intelligence officials who abused their positions of public trust,’ Ingle said.
The action is part of a broader Trump administration campaign to wield the levers of government against perceived adversaries.
It reflects the president’s continued distrust of intelligence officials from prior Democratic administrations and risks chilling dissenting voices from within the national security community.
The revocation of clearances, a vital tool for intelligence professionals needing to preserve access to sensitive information, has been a go-to tactic for Trump.
Its been used to target law firms that have fallen out of favor as well as dozens of former officials who signed onto a letter saying that the Hunter Biden laptop saga bore the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign.
‘These are unlawful and unconstitutional decisions that deviate from well-settled, decades-old laws and policies that sought to protect against just this type of action,’ Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer whose own clearance was revoked by the Trump administration, said in a statement.
In the last month Gabbard has declassified a series of years-old documents meant to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the assessment on Russian election interference.
Many of those whose clearances were revoked only learned of the Gabbard action from news reports published Tuesday, according to two former government officials who were on the list.
‘Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,’ Gabbard said in a statement
Both spoke on the condition of anonymity as they ponder whether to take legal action.
It comes just weeks after Gabbard laid into Barack Obama on an appearance on Fox & Friends on Saturday, accusing him of ‘treasonous conspiracy.’
Gabbard cited allegations she made last week accusing Obama’s White House of pushing a ‘hoax’ that Trump’s 2016 campaign was propped up by the Kremlin.
Trump also accused Obama of treason, while the 44th president issued a statement denying all the allegations lodged against him.
‘The complicity, the deflection, and the silence of politicians, of the mainstream media, and of those directly implicated into this speaks volumes,’ Gabbard said on Saturday.
The former Democrat-turned-Republican also responded to a blistering comeback from Obama over her claims, in which Obama said Gabbard was making ‘bizarre allegations’ that are a ‘weak attempt at distraction’ from the Epstein files.
Gabbard countered: ‘President Obama’s very carefully worded response that came from his office, again, deflects away from addressing any of the truth that was revealed.
‘They would have to admit and actually address the details of their complicity in this or their absolute failure in conducting the most basic responsibilities of, again, asking, where is this intelligence coming from?’
Gabbard is calling for an investigation into and potential criminal prosecution of anyone who took part – which may include ex-President Barack Obama
Gabbard made the remarks a day after she sent a criminal referral against Obama to Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging he ‘manufactured and politicized intelligence’ to create a narrative implicating Trump with Russia.
In an X post about her criminal referral, Gabbard said: ‘Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people.
‘No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it.
‘We are turning over all documents to the DOJ for criminal referral.’
Gabbard’s rebuke of Obama comes after the former president issued a rare statement to condemn Trump’s wild allegations of ‘treason.’
‘Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,’ an Obama spokesperson said.
‘But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.’
The former president’s spokesman then turned to Gabbard’s report, saying: ‘Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.
‘These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.’
That last lined needled Trump’s secretary of state and national security advisor, who was seated next to the president during his extended discourse on Obama and his team.
Trump and Obama have a fraught relationship, although they were spotted chatting in what appeared to be amiable fashion at Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January. Trump rode ‘birther’ conspiracies about Obama to influence in his first successful run for president.
The pushback from Obama’s team came after Trump issued an extraordinary call Tuesday to investigate the ex-president – saying he had been caught ‘cold’ and accusing his predecessor of ‘treason.’
Trump issued his stunning series of attacks on the two-term Democratic president shortly after being asked yet another question about Jeffrey Epstein – the scandal that Obama appeared to be implying that Trump was trying to ‘distract’ from.
Trump has since threatened to prosecute Obama, saying this week that Attorney General Pam Bondi should ‘act’ on the matter – while also indicating it was at her discretion.
