On August 4, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi formally instructed federal prosecutors to initiate a grand jury investigation into whether officials from the former President Obama administration fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election.

This long-awaited judicial accusation once again reflects the deepening divisions and polarization within American politics.

Promoting the Judicial Process

According to sources, an unnamed federal prosecutor has been authorized to initiate relevant legal procedures and will present evidence to the grand jury to determine whether criminal charges should be brought against the involved parties.

The core accusation of this investigation is that senior officials from the Obama administration are suspected of "manipulating the intelligence community" to fabricate a false narrative of collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russian government, thereby challenging the legitimacy of Trump's 2016 presidential victory.

On July 18, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard publicly released a significant report - a 128-page declassified document.

The document shows that several months before the November 2016 presidential election, the U.S. intelligence community had reached a consensus that Russia had no intention or capability to interfere in the election.

However, after Trump's unexpected victory, the situation underwent a dramatic change. Obama convened a meeting with high-ranking members of the national security team and requested that the report be rewritten to include content about "Russian interference in the election."

Gabbard's report specifically points out that the Obama team deliberately amplified unreliable information. This file, funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign, was filled with unverified rumors claiming that Trump had been blackmailed by Russia, although these pieces of information were later proven to be false.

Trump vs. His Predecessor

This investigation marks the latest escalation in the long-standing political feud between Trump and Obama.

On July 22, Trump directly accused Obama of "treason" in a public statement, demanding an investigation and "serious consequences."

He even shared on his social media a video generated by AI showing Obama being arrested with handcuffs, with the background music being Trump's campaign theme song "YMCA."

The Obama side quickly retaliated, with its spokesperson calling Trump's accusations "absurd" and stating it was a "desperate attempt to divert public attention."

Democrats also collectively defended Obama. Jim Himes, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, called Gabbard's report "political manipulation" and said it contradicted previous assessments.

Notably, previous intelligence assessments were confirmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020. The report stated that Russia indeed attempted to interfere in the election, although these interventions did not change the voting results.

Democrats emphasized that Gabbard's report selectively ignored this key point, focusing only on parts that benefited Trump.

Legal Labyrinth and Political Storm

Analysts pointed out that the Department of Justice's investigation will face multiple legal and political challenges in response to this round of accusations.

Firstly, the currently disclosed documents are mostly emails and internal reports, lacking direct evidence proving that Obama ordered the fabrication of intelligence.

Secondly, the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark ruling last year, granting former presidents criminal immunity for actions taken while performing "official duties." The acts of Obama in this case likely fall under this category.

Additionally, if the investigation involves other current or former high-ranking government officials, especially Biden and Hillary, it will inevitably lead to new legal disputes.

Legal experts believe that even if the accusations are true, Obama's actions would more likely constitute "abuse of power" or "conspiracy," rather than the strictly defined "treason" in the Constitution. Article III of the U.S. Constitution defines treason as "levying war against the United States or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort," whereas Obama's actions fall under the scope of domestic political struggle.

Nevertheless, the "war" between Trump and Obama has had a profound impact on the American political ecosystem, not only reigniting the "Russia Gate" controversy but also further deepening the political polarization in the United States.

(Editor's email: ylq@jfdaily.com)

Title: "Investigation Officially Launched, Will Trump Send Obama to Prison?"

Column Editor: Yang Liqun Text Editor: Yang Liqun Picture Source: Xinhua News Agency

Source: Author: Jiefang Daily Xu Xiaoyu

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534982965642805769/

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