‘Witch Hunt’: Trump’s new label for Epstein files probe as he spirals over ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ in Oval Office rant

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Donald Trump hastily changed the subject to his years-long bid to seek revenge against Barack Obama as he was questioned about the Jeffrey Epstein files during a meeting Monday with the president of the Philipines at the White House.

The U.S. president accused his predecessor of “sedacious [sic]” behavior and ranted about an imaginary “coup” after Ed O’Keefe of CBS News asked him about the Justice Department reaching out to attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell to request a new interview about Epstein and the sex trafficking ring for which her involvement earned the socialite a 20-year prison sentence in 2022.

“I don’t know about it, but I think it’s something that would be, sounds appropriate to do,” the president said, before telling O’Keefe: “It’s sort of a witch hunt, the continuation of the witch hunt.”

He then said that “the witch hunt you should be talking about” was how Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence, supposedly “caught President Obama absolutely cold”.

Trump proceeded to rant for several minutes about his long-debunked claims that Barack Obama was engaged in an illegal effort to spy on his campaign, overturn the 2016 election, and spread false information about links between his first campaign for office and Russia.

Donald Trump attacked Barack Obama falsely during a rant in the Oval Office, accusing the ex-president of launching a ‘coup’ (AP)

He previously appointed John Durham, a special prosecutor, to review the origins of that FBI investigation into his 2016 campaign for any criminal behavior in 2019; the probe came up with nothing against Obama or others in his administration, and found no evidence of a “Deep State” conspiracy against Trump.

But Trump insisted to reporters on Tuesday that a memo issued by Gabbard accusing the Obama administration of doctoring intelligence assessments related to Russian influence and hacking efforts during the 2016 election season was the evidence his administration needed to begin criminal prosecutions of the 44th president; his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton; former President Joe Biden, former director of national intellingence James Clapper; and former FBI chief James Comey.

“There should be very severe consequences,” Trump said. “Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly.”

This is a breaking news report. More to follow…