From Fox News: Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her staff Monday to act on the criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard related to the alleged conspiracy to tie President Donald Trump to Russia, and the Department of Justice is now opening a grand jury investigation into the matter, Fox News Digital has learned.
Bondi ordered an unnamed federal prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings, and the prosecutor is expected to present department evidence to a grand jury 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 referrals from Gabbard “very seriously.” The spokesperson said Bondi believed there is “clear cause for deep concern” and a need for the next steps.
BACKGROUND:
• DOJ Investigation: The DOJ is investigating potential criminal activity related to the 2016 presidential election.
• Gabbard’s Referral: Tulsi Gabbard made a criminal referral to the DOJ, alleging intelligence suppression regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.
• Declassified Intelligence: Gabbard declassified intelligence, challenging the narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump.
• Allegation against Obama: Obama allegedly promoted a false narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump win, promoting a “contrived narrative …, selling it to the American people as though it were true. It wasn’t.”
• Declassified Material: Meeting records revealed Obama’s request for an intelligence assessment on Russia’s actions during the 2016 election, after Trump had won, detailing the “tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election.”
The criminal referral from Gabbard 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.”
A grand jury investigation is needed to secure an indictment against any potential suspects.
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