The Department of Justice has formally requested a broad set of documents from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as part of its expanding criminal investigation into the Obama administration’s efforts to link Donald Trump to Russia, The Federalist reported.
In a letter to ODNI senior adviser Paul McNamara, a federal prosecutor—acting under the authority of the Attorney General—cited a criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard regarding the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that alleged, without evidence, that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. The DOJ is now seeking 12 categories of materials related to Gabbard’s referral.
The request includes all records, communications, and intelligence connected to Gabbard’s July 18 memo alleging a coordinated campaign to manipulate intelligence for political purposes. Also requested are all supporting materials from the recently declassified House Intelligence Committee oversight report, whistleblower complaints implicating former intelligence officials John Brennan, James Clapper, and James Comey, and the identification of individuals named in the ICA and related records.
The letter further demands any documentation showing how whistleblower complaints were handled by inspectors general at both the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, and seeks all materials related to possible media leaks tied to the ICA.
The prosecutor added that DOJ will coordinate with ODNI for in-person review of classified material and interviews with key figures. The letter concluded by urging timely cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
