Ratcliffe: Clinton, Obama Officials Could Still Face Charges Over Russia Collusion Allegations
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Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe says there may still be legal consequences for several high-ranking Obama-era officials, including Hillary Clinton, for their alleged roles in promoting the now-discredited narrative of Russian collusion with Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
In a recent interview on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo, Ratcliffe stated that the effort to tie Trump to Russia was not only politically motivated but orchestrated by the Clinton campaign. He named several figures, including former President Barack Obama, FBI Director James Comey, and CIA Director John Brennan, suggesting they may have lied under oath about their involvement in the probe.
“This was a Hillary Clinton campaign scheme,” Ratcliffe said. “She pushed false claims to discredit Trump during the 2016 race.”
Potential Legal Ramifications
When asked directly whether Clinton, Brennan, or Comey could still face indictment or prosecution, Ratcliffe confirmed that he had submitted criminal referrals to the Department of Justice. He added that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has also made similar referrals.
“We’ll continue sharing intelligence that allows the Department of Justice to bring fair and just charges against those responsible for this hoax,” he said.
Gabbard Accuses Obama of Orchestrating Operation
Just days earlier, Tulsi Gabbard publicly alleged that the Russia narrative was a “treasonous conspiracy” directed from the top of the Obama administration. Gabbard has submitted documentation and a formal referral to the DOJ calling for further investigation.
The claims stem from a recent declassification of intelligence documents related to the Russia probe and the infamous Steele Dossier—a central piece of the investigation that has since been largely discredited.
New Emails Reveal Internal Concern Over Dossier
Among the documents released last week is a previously unseen 2019 email exchange from officials within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The emails show that some intelligence personnel had concerns about the use of the Steele Dossier in official reports, especially in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian election interference.
One redacted official wrote that while helping review a version of the ICA, they found no reference to the dossier, raising suspicions that critical information might have been intentionally excluded from analysts who were cleared to see it.
“If the dossier material was used and I was excluded from it despite my clearance, that’s a serious issue,” the official wrote.
What Happens Next?
Though no new charges have been filed, the comments from Ratcliffe and the release of these documents could rekindle calls for accountability surrounding the 2016 investigation. Some lawmakers and legal experts have urged the Department of Justice to review the referrals and examine whether any laws were broken in how intelligence was gathered and presented.
Neither Clinton, Brennan, nor Comey have issued public statements in response to the latest developments.
