Treasonous Conspiracy: Prosecuting the 2016 Election Interference

On July 18th, 2025 the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard exposed a grave betrayal of public trust: a coordinated effort by high-ranking officials in the Obama administration to manipulate intelligence and undermine the 2016 presidential election results. This conspiracy, which targeted President-elect Donald Trump, was not a mere political maneuver but a deliberate assault on our Constitutional Republic. The evidence demands accountability, and those responsible, regardless of their former positions, must face prosecution under relevant laws to prevent future abuses of power.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has uncovered a disturbing timeline. Throughout 2016, the Intelligence Community consistently assessed that Russia was not attempting to influence the U.S. presidential election through cyberattacks. A December 7, 2016, talking point prepared for DNI James Clapper explicitly stated that foreign adversaries had not altered the election outcome through cyber means. Yet, just two days later, a meeting of top National Security Council principals, including Clapper, John Brennan, Susan Rice, John Kerry, Loretta Lynch, and Andrew McCabe, shifted the narrative. Following President Obama’s directive, the ODNI was tasked with producing a new assessment claiming Moscow actively sought to influence the election. This culminated in the January 6, 2017, Intelligence Community Assessment, which contradicted prior findings and relied on discredited sources like the Steele Dossier.

This manufactured intelligence fueled a years-long campaign to delegitimize Trump’s presidency. It sparked the Mueller investigation, two congressional impeachments, and the persecution of Trump’s associates, while escalating U.S.-Russia tensions. Such actions violate the core principles of of our Constitutional Republic form governance and constitute a grave abuse of power. The evidence points to a conspiracy that subverted the will of the American electorate, a crime that cannot go unpunished.

Federal law provides clear grounds for prosecution. Title 18 U.S.C. § 2381 defines treason as levying war against the United States or adhering to its enemies, with a penalty of up to life imprisonment. While treason requires a high bar, the coordinated effort to undermine a duly elected president could meet this threshold, particularly if foreign entities were knowingly leveraged to amplify false narratives. More broadly, 18 U.S.C. § 371 criminalizes conspiracies to defraud the United States, including schemes to impair lawful government functions, such as the peaceful transfer of power. Penalties include up to five years in prison. Additionally, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 addresses false statements to federal authorities, carrying a potential seven-year sentence if the matter involves domestic terrorism, which could apply given the national security implications of politicized intelligence.

The involvement of senior officials, potentially including former President Obama, underscores the need for impartial justice. No individual, regardless of rank, is above the law. The Supreme Court has affirmed this principle, notably in United States v. Nixon (1974), which compelled President Nixon to produce evidence in a criminal investigation. Similarly, Clinton v. Jones (1997) established that sitting presidents lack immunity from civil suits for actions outside their official duties, setting a precedent for holding former presidents accountable. Prosecuting those involved, up to the highest levels, is not about retribution but about upholding the rule of law.

Without accountability, the incentive to repeat such offenses grows. History offers sobering lessons: unchecked abuses of power, like those during the Watergate scandal, eroded public trust until prosecutions restored faith in governance. The 2016 conspiracy, with its far-reaching consequences, demands a similar response. Failure to prosecute risks normalizing the politicization of intelligence, inviting future administrations to manipulate national security apparatus for partisan gain. This would erode the Constitutional Republic’s foundation, as DNI Gabbard rightly warned.

Critics may argue that prosecuting former officials, especially a former president, could deepen political divisions. However, the greater danger lies in allowing such actions to go unpunished. Public trust in institutions, already strained, depends on transparency and justice. A 2023 Gallup poll showed only 17% of Americans have significant confidence in the federal government, a historic low. Shielding powerful figures from accountability would further alienate citizens, reinforcing perceptions of a two-tiered justice system.

The Department of Justice must act decisively, leveraging the ODNI’s evidence to pursue charges under applicable statutes. This is not a partisan issue but a matter of national integrity. The conspiracy’s architects weaponized intelligence to subvert the law and our Constitutional Republic form of government, affecting not only President Trump but every American who voted in 2016. Prosecuting those responsible, regardless of their former titles, sends a clear message: no one can undermine the people’s will without consequence.



The path forward requires courage and impartiality. The DOJ must investigate thoroughly, ensuring due process while holding all culpable parties accountable. This includes examining the roles of Clapper, Brennan, Rice, and others, as well as the former president’s involvement in directing the false assessment. Only through prosecution can the nation deter future conspiracies and restore faith in its institutions. The American people deserve nothing less than justice, delivered without fear or favor, to safeguard the republic for generations to come.