What started as political tension has now turned into a full-blown legal development that could shake up the U.S. political landscape.
A grand jury is officially being called to examine criminal referrals tied to the beginnings of the Russia collusion investigation—a probe that once rocked Washington and deeply divided the country.
Grand Jury Greenlit Amid Explosive Accusations
On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi authorized the convening of a grand jury, according to a report first revealed by Fox News.
The move is in response to recent criminal referrals sent to the Justice Department by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Her focus? Former President Barack Obama and key members of his administration—including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and ex-CIA chief John Brennan.
Gabbard Alleges a Conspiracy Before the 2016 Election
Last month, Gabbard dropped a political bombshell by publicly releasing documents that she claims prove Obama-era officials conspired illegally before the 2016 election to tie Donald Trump to Russia.
According to her, this was all done to damage Trump’s chances at winning the presidency.
Some critics argue Gabbard’s timing was convenient, possibly aiming to distract from the Justice Department’s ongoing mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein file review.
That controversy has put Bondi under significant pressure, with growing calls for her resignation.
Hidden Documents Discovered at the FBI
Fueling the fire further, FBI Director Kash Patel recently uncovered a stash of concealed documents hidden in a secret room inside the bureau.
These papers, allegedly scheduled to be destroyed, reportedly contain critical information related to the early stages of the Russia investigation.
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa later published the contents, which include a classified annex to Special Counsel John Durham’s final report.
Durham, appointed during the Trump administration, was tasked with probing the origins of the FBI’s inquiry into the Trump campaign.
Momentum Toward Possible Charges
With Bondi’s directive, the stakes just got higher.
This move could bring Trump’s team one step closer to criminal charges against top Obama-era officials.
One source familiar with the situation speculated that Bondi’s action likely targets former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey.
Durham’s earlier findings had already cast doubt on the FBI’s decision to launch the Russia investigation, suggesting there wasn’t enough solid evidence at the time to justify it.
How the Documents Survived Destruction
The documents that Patel found were likely overlooked by previous FBI leadership, according to someone briefed on the matter.
Had bureau officials not been combing through every inch of storage during routine reviews, it’s possible these records would’ve never surfaced at all.
Those files are now in the hands of Senator Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and has long questioned the conduct of the FBI during the Trump-Russia saga.
Obama-Era Officials Push Back
In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Brennan and Clapper defended their actions and pushed back against what they see as political weaponization of intelligence.
They pointed out that even Special Counsel Durham’s extensive probe found no proof of an orchestrated Obama administration plot against Trump.
Clinton’s Role Resurfaces in the Documents
Interestingly, the annex included in Durham’s report also outlines Hillary Clinton’s alleged efforts to associate Trump with Russia.
It goes on to claim that the FBI didn’t properly investigate Clinton’s potential ties to the same narrative they pursued so aggressively against Trump.
The Trump Administration Publishes More Documents
Just last month, the Trump administration declassified and released a batch of documents tied to the Russia collusion probe.
Gabbard followed suit by making public evidence she says reveals the Obama administration “fabricated and manipulated intelligence” to suggest foreign interference in the 2016 election.