DOJ Authorizes Grand Jury Investigation Into Obama-Era Russia Probe Origins
Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed her subordinates to convene a grand jury to investigate whether officials from former President Barack Obama’s administration politicized intelligence to falsely link Donald Trump to Russia during the 2016 election. The inquiry stems from a criminal referral submitted by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, who accused senior Obama officials of manipulating national security assessments.
Bondi has formed a special strike force to scrutinize Gabbard’s claims, which allege a coordinated effort — rooted in the Crossfire Hurricane probe — to leverage intelligence as political ammunition. The investigation is reportedly examining figures including former CIA Director John Brennan, former DNI James Clapper, and former FBI Director James Comey.
Gabbard declassified documents she says provide direct evidence of a “treasonous conspiracy” to frame Trump — a claim that contradicts past bipartisan reviews affirming Russia attempted to meddle in the election, but did not change the vote count.
A former senior Justice Department official torched the move as a “dangerous political stunt.”
Another former national security official pointed out that multiple investigations — including Republican-led ones — had already found no criminal misconduct tied to the origins of the Russia probe.
“There’s no logical, rational basis for this,” the official said, speaking anonymously.
Meanwhile, a senior Trump administration official confirmed there’s no timeline yet for the grand jury to convene — warning it could be months before proceedings formally begin.
Fox News was the first to report on Bondi’s letter to prosecutors:
Bondi personally ordered an unnamed federal prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings and the prosecutor is expected to present department evidence to a grand jury, which would allow the department to secure a potential indictment, according to a letter from Bondi reviewed by Fox News Digital and a source familiar with the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on the report of an investigation but said Bondi is taking the referral from Gabbard “very seriously.” The spokesperson said Bondi believed there is “clear cause for deep concern” and a need for next steps.
The DOJ confirmed two weeks ago it received a criminal referral from Gabbard. The referral included a memorandum titled “Intelligence Community suppression of intelligence showing ‘Russian and criminal actors did not impact’ the 2016 presidential election via cyber-attacks on infrastructure” and asked that the DOJ open an investigation.
No charges have been brought at this stage of the investigation against any potential defendants.
While Obama himself enjoys presidential immunity for official acts, DOJ may focus on lower-level officials or alleged false statements to Congress — though statute of limitations could limit prosecution.
Bondi hasn’t ruled out criminal charges if sufficient evidence emerges. For now, the scope of the investigation remains opaque.
What to Watch Next
- Will the grand jury lead to indictments — or stall amid immunity and timing issues?
- How will critics respond to Bondi’s motives and whether the allegations are partisan?
- Might a high-profile hearing or public release of documents emerge if lawmakers press for oversight?
- Will emerging revelations around intelligence protocols impact ongoing or future probes?
Bottom Line
With grand jury proceedings officially underway, the DOJ marks a major escalation in the political and legal repercussions of the Russiagate era. Whether this yields accountability or deepens partisan divide depends largely on what evidence is presented — and whether immunity, timing, or lack of new corroboration stymies action.
