Former President Barack Obama’s office has released a statement after President Donald Trump accused the Democrat and members of his administration of committing “treason” by allegedly manufacturing intelligence regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“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. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” the statement said.
Why It Matters
Trump has rarely enjoyed a cordial relationship with his predecessor. The accusation that Obama committed treason has been met with backlash from critics who argue that the claims are an attempt to distract from the controversy around the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Obama Issues Statement on Trump’s Threats
As the statement from Obama’s office said, the former president rarely comments on claims made by Trump or his administration about him.
Obama’s spokesperson, Patrick Rodenbush, refuted the claims made by Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, writing: “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,” he said. “These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.”
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump called Obama “the leader of the gang” when it came to the Russia investigation and the outcome of the 2020 election.
“He’s guilty…This was treason,” Trump said.
Trump’s tirade, a detour from his official business as he hosted the leader of the Philippines, unfolded against the backdrop of a new report from Gabbard that represented his administration’s latest attempt to rewrite the history of the Russia investigation, which has infuriated him for years.
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The report, released Friday, downplayed the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election by highlighting Obama administration emails showing officials had concluded before and after the presidential race that Moscow had not hacked state election systems to manipulate votes in Trump’s favor.
But Obama’s Democratic administration never suggested otherwise, even as it exposed other means by which Russia interfered in the election, including through a massive hack-and-leak operation of Democratic emails by intelligence operatives working with WikiLeaks. Also, a covert foreign influence campaign aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts.
Gabbard’s report appears to suggest the absence of manipulation of state election systems is a basis to call into question more general Russian interference.
Could Barack Obama Go to Jail?
Besides Obama, Trump on Tuesday rattled off a list of people he accused of acting criminally “at the highest level,” including former FBI Director James Comey, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump in 2016, and former national intelligence director James Clapper.
Trump accused Obama, without evidence, of being the “ringleader” of a conspiracy to get him.
Obama has never been accused of any wrongdoing as part of the Russia investigation, and, in any event, a landmark Supreme Court opinion from last year shields former presidents from prosecution for official acts conducted in office.
What Is Treason? Definition Explained
Treason is defined in the U.S. under Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution, which reads: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.”
Essentially, this means that the defendant intentionally betrayed their allegiance to the U.S. by either levying war against their own government or by aiding the U.S.’ enemies. Attempts to overthrow the government can also be considered within this.
There have been only around 40 federal prosecutions for treason in U.S. history, with many not resulting in conviction.
What People Are Saying
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said in a recent CBS interview: “The people who are being called out now were involved in a scheme…it was a shameless false set of accusations and yet they perpetuated a lie on the American people. And they looked right into the camera and just lied. And they knew what they were up to the whole time. So there must be accountability for that.”
DNI Tulsi Gabbard, speaking to Fox News on Tuesday: “It’s the art of deflection coming from former President Obama, as well as his friends who are still in Congress today.”
What Happens Next
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced no formal investigation so far, but Johnson has said he would support Obama being subpoenaed.
