Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that Russia anticipated Hillary Clinton’s victory in the 2016 presidential election and acted accordingly, aiming to sow chaos rather than support Donald Trump. In an interview with the New York Post’s Miranda Devine on the “Pod Force One” podcast, Gabbard said, “Russia believed that Hillary Clinton would win the election. They felt it was inevitable.”
She questioned the logic behind claims that Russia wanted Trump to win, noting that if the Kremlin truly backed Trump, it would have released damaging Clinton material before the election—not after. Citing a 2020 House Intelligence Committee report, Gabbard referenced alleged Russian intel claiming Clinton used “heavy tranquilizers” for emotional instability, which she says was withheld until after the election.
Gabbard suggested this delay was strategic: Russia waited, assuming Clinton would win, intending to release the information ahead of her inauguration to destabilize her administration. She also revealed that documents previously thought to be lost were recently uncovered by her office.
In July, Gabbard submitted criminal referrals to the Department of Justice, alleging a coordinated effort—originating with the Obama administration—to delegitimize Trump’s presidency. She described it as a “covert mission” to create a false narrative undermining the legitimacy of Trump’s election and his four years in office.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has since ordered a grand jury to examine these claims, with Fox News confirming the investigation is moving forward. A DoJ spokesperson declined to comment, though Bondi reportedly views the allegations as deeply troubling.
