2016 election probe: Donald Trump backs Tulsi Gabbard; slams Barack Obama and 'thugs'

US President on Saturday backed director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for calling out the prosecution of former President Barack Obama and senior members of his administration, accusing "thugs" of working together to hurt Donald Trump’s win in the 2016 election and damage his presidency afterward.In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump praised journalists of Fox News and said that they were fantastic on prosecuting Obama and the “thugs” over election fraud. "Great job by young and talented Harrison Fields on FoxNews. The Panel was fantastic on prosecuting Obama and the “thugs” who have just been unequivocally exposed on highest level Election Fraud. Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard. Keep it coming!!!" Trump said. Gabbard appeared on "Hannity" Friday night where she asserted that former President Barack Obama's goal with the Russia collusion narrative was to "subvert the American people's will" in the 2016 presidential election.Gabbard declassified the report on the Obama administration's Russia hoax on Friday, revealing "overwhelming evidence" that demonstrates how, after President Donald Trump won the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton, then-President Barack Obama and his national security team laid the groundwork for what would be the years-long Trump–Russia collusion probe.Earlier, the DNI released a statement, said there is "overwhelming evidence" "overwhelming evidence," showing that following Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton, Obama and his national security team "manufactured and politicised intelligence" to establish groundwork for what she characterised as an extended attempt to remove Trump from office."The issue I am raising is not a partisan issue. It is one that concerns every American," Gabbard said. "The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government."Gabbard indicated that all associated documentation would be submitted to the department of justice for criminal review. She emphasised that "no matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law".The statement identifies senior officials, including then-DNI James Clapper, CIA director John Brennan, national security adviser Susan Rice, secretary of state John Kerry, attorney general Loretta Lynch, and FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, who attended a high-level National Security Council meeting on December 9, 2016, at the White House. Gabbard contends this meeting initiated a new Intelligence Community assessment at Obama's request to attribute election interference to Russia.According to Gabbard, intelligence assessments prior to the election had determined that Russia was "probably not trying ... to influence the election by cyber means". A December 7, 2016 internal memo additionally stated, "Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome."Following the White House meeting, Clapper's executive assistant instructed agencies including the CIA, FBI, NSA and DHS to prepare a new IC assessment regarding Russian interference, noting it was "per the President's request".Gabbard stated that Obama officials provided "false statements" to outlets such as The Washington Post, incorrectly asserting Russian interference in the election outcome. A January 6, 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment reportedly contradicted previous findings spanning several months.She asserted this revised assessment utilised unreliable or "manufactured" sources, including the subsequently discredited Steele Dossier. Gabbard indicated this led to various consequences, including the Mueller investigation, Trump's two impeachments, arrests of senior officials, and increased Russian tensions."Their egregious abuse of power and blatant rejection of our Constitution threatens the very foundation and integrity of our democratic republic," Gabbard said. "The American people's faith and trust in our democratic republic and therefore the future of our nation depends on it."This development occurs amidst increased Republican examination of the Trump-Russia investigation's origins, following recent intelligence record releases through her office.