‘Crossfire Hurricane’: Grand jury probe Obama-era intel for role in 2016 Trump-Russia narrative; DOJ examines conspiracy claims

Director of nationwide intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (Image credit: AP)

The justice division has convened a federal grand jury to analyze officers from former US President Barack Obama’s administration, who’re accused of pushing a false scandal about President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia in the course of the 2016 election.The investigation may result in felony costs towards a number of outstanding figures from the Obama period, together with former director of nationwide intelligence James Clapper, former CIA director John Brennan, and former FBI director James Comey, in response to The New York Post.The inquiry focuses on claims that these officers conspired to create and promote the Trump-Russia narrative in the early days of the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation.The Crossfire Hurricane probe started in July 2016, when the FBI launched an investigation into alleged connections between the Trump marketing campaign and Russian operatives. That inquiry later led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose 2019 report acknowledged “links” between Trump associates and Russian people however discovered no proof of a felony conspiracy.However, subsequent scrutiny raised issues concerning the FBI’s conduct, significantly the improper use of FISA warrants towards Trump adviser Carter Page. In October 2020, then-attorney basic Bill Barr appointed John Durham as particular counsel to look at the origins of the probe.Recent reviews have highlighted a newly uncovered annex containing intelligence that “predicted the FBI’s actions with alarming specificity,” including weight to Republican claims that the bureau might have sought to affect the 2016 election in favor of Hillary Clinton.Trump and present director of nationwide intelligence Tulsi Gabbard have each known as for a federal investigation into the origins of the Russia probe. Trump has accused the previous officers of finishing up a “treasonous and seditious conspiracy” aimed toward undermining his first-term agenda.He additionally acknowledged that Obama is probably going immune from prosecution following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that shields presidents from felony costs associated to official acts.