Latest news with #HillaryClinton
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Clinton exposed as Russiagate source? CIA's Ratcliffe teases more docs coming
CIA Director John Ratcliffe is stepping into the fray, backing up claims by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that Russiagate's origins can now be tied directly to a coterie of intelligence officials and also to former President Barack Obama. Obama allegedly directed those officials — James Comey, John Brennan and James Clapper — to reach stronger conclusions about Russia's impact on the 2016 election, even though they knew there was no hacking. Now Ratcliffe says then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also involved. 'What hasn't come out yet and what's gong to come out is the underlying intelligence that I have spent the last few months making recommendations about — final declassification and sent that to the Department of Justice that will come out in the John Durham report classified annex,' Ratcliffe told Fox News. 'And what that intelligence shows, Maria, is that part of this was a Hillary Clinton plan, but part of it was an FBI plan to be an accelerant to that fake Steele dossier, to those fake Russia collusion claims by pouring oil on the fire, by amplifying the lie and burying the truth of what Hillary Clinton was up to.' Later in the interview, Ratcliffe said that he didn't think the statute of limitations would apply here, but he would leave to Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department to make a final determination. Now to be clear, that report on Hillary Clinton's involvement is still forthcoming. What you saw there was a teaser trailer of sorts. This all comes amidst a major push by Gabbard and the Trump administration to re-open the issue of Russiagate's origins. We now know that major claims in mainstream media about the extent of Russia's malfeasance and its connection to the Trump campaign were serially exaggerated at the behest of countless intelligence officials. Clinton, perhaps even more so than Obama, clearly bought into the idea that Russian activity cast down on Trump's win in 2016. She repeatedly called him an illegitimate president. In fact, even years later, in 2020, long after the ideological underpinnings of Russiagate had collapsed, Clinton was still making such claims on a podcast in 2020. 'The one thing that Trump is fearful of when it comes to his being president is that finally we will see how illegitimate his victory actually was and how he was involved in the seeking of foreign help and then the utilization of it,' she said. Clinton is, of course, entitled to continue being a sore loser about 2016, to shake her fist and say she really won that election. It's not true, but she can say it. But the American people deserve to know if fake and discredited intelligence about Russia, that smeared the Trump campaign, was pushed by her own team. If Ratcliffe has the goods, I for one look forward to seeing it. Robby Soave is co-host of The Hill's commentary show 'Rising' and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his daily commentary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Former Federal Prosecutor Reveals Whether Those Involved In Pushing The Russiagate Hoax Could Face Criminal Charges
During an appearance on Fox Across America With guest host Paul Mauro, former federal prosecutor Eric Seidel explains what it would take for people like Hillary Clinton and members of former President Obama's administration to be charged criminally over their alleged role in spreading the Trump-Russia collusion hoax. Katie Pavlich Reacts To The New Russiagate Hoax Revelations


The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
CIA director suggests Hillary Clinton could face criminal prosecution as part of Obama ‘Russiagate' investigation
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has continued to elevate conspiracies about former Obama-era officials using Russia to target Donald Trump, and suggested that some, including the president's 2016 White House rival Hillary Clinton, could face indictments or prosecutions. Speaking with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, Ratcliffe expanded on the Trump administration's allegations that former president Barack Obama and some of his officials made up 'Russiagate' to undermine Trump in 2016. Clinton also served as Obama's secretary of state during his first term. 'This was a Hillary Clinton campaign scheme,' Ratcliffe said, alleging that Clinton conspired to 'falsely accuse' Trump of colluding with Russia in what would become known as the 'Steele Dossier'. Ratcliffe then claimed that Clinton, as well as former FBI director James Comey and Obama's former CIA director John Brennan, lied under oath about their apparent involvement in Russian election interference. 'So, what I think I hear you saying is, there is still an opportunity for indictments, potential prosecutions, accountability from those people who may have lied under oath like John Brennan, James Comey, and perhaps Hillary Clinton,' Bartiromo said to Ratcliffe. The CIA Director responded: 'Well, that's why I've made the referrals that I have.' Ratcliffe continued: '[Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard] has made referrals. And why we're going to continue to share the intelligence that would support the ability of our Department of Justice to make fair and just, bring fair and just claims, against those who have perpetrated this hoax against the American people and this stain on this country.' Clinton has not publicly commented on Ratcliffe's allegations. The Independent has asked a representative for Clinton for comment. Over the past few weeks, the Trump administration has embarked on a campaign against Obama and other officials, accusing them of unfairly targeting Trump in 2016 with 'Russiagate.' For years, Trump has railed against official findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election by waging an online disinformation war to boost his campaign. He's blamed Democrats for fabricating the allegations and conclusion. Last week, Gabbard took the blame game to a new level and pointed to Obama as the figurehead behind 'Russiagate', accusing him of 'treasonous conspiracy'. Gabbard has made a criminal referral to the Justice Department regarding Obama. Last week, a spokesperson for Obama denied the 'bizarre allegations,' saying they were a 'ridiculous and weak attempt at distraction.' The return of 'Russiagate' and the fresh accusations appear to be a diversion tactic amid public uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the so-called 'Epstein Files'. On July 6, the Justice Department issued a memo saying that no further investigation was warranted into Jeffrey Epstein, a sex offender and wealthy financier accused of running a decades-long sex trafficking scheme involving girls and women. FBI and DOJ leadership had hinted for months that more information would be unearthed on Epstein. But the July 6 memo stated there was no 'client list' of high-profile individuals associated with Epstein, and confirmed that he died by suicide in federal prison in 2019. Trump's supporters, many of whom had long peddled Epstein conspiracy theories, have been in uproar since, amid claims of a coverup by the administration. The president has encouraged his supporters, and reporters, to move on. 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years,' Trump said during a cabinet meeting in early July. 'Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.' In the weeks following the July 6 memo, the public spotlight has remained on Trump's former relationship with Epstein. The president previously said the two were friends for many years before having a falling out. The president has denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes. He has not been accused of any formal wrongdoing or charged with a crime. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Trump had sent a birthday sketch to Epstein in the early 2000s, referencing 'secrets' and with the outline of a naked woman. Trump has denied sending the card and filed a $20bn defamation lawsuit against the Journal and its publisher. Last week, the Journal reported that former president Bill Clinton had also written Epstein a birthday card, which was contained in the same album. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton declined to comment on card but said the former president cut ties with Epstein years before he was arrested, and was aware of his crimes. In an apparent attempt to shift focus from the Epstein outrage, the Trump administration has launched its attack on senior Democrats. 'There is no doubt in my mind that the people we just talked about conspired,' Ratcliffe told Bartiromo Sunday, when asked about treason allegations related to Clinton. 'They conspired against President Trump, they conspired against the American people. So I'll leave it to Pam Bondi and our Department of Justice, Kash Patel and our FBI to investigate the conspiracy to do what and what charges they're capable of bringing,' Ratcliffe added.


Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Hillary Clinton could be on the hook for perjury says Trump's CIA director as he vows to take action
Donald Trump's CIA Director John Ratcliffe suggested that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top Obama aides could be hit with perjury charges. Ratcliffe said that Obama officials involved with the 'Russia hoax' - the debunked narrative that Russia interfered with the 2016 election on behalf of Donald Trump 's campaign - could be prosecuted. 'Are those statute of limitations still live?' Fox Business host Bartiromo asked Ratcliffe. 'Tell me if, in fact, we could see a criminal prosecution here.' Ratcliffe responded by saying that the intelligence community has another batch of documents that will be released soon showing elements of 'Russiagate' were part of a 'Hillary Clinton plan.' That evidence, he said, is contained in a document titled the 'Durham annex,' files authored during Special Counsel John Durham 's investigation into the origins of the Russia collusion scandal. 'And what that intelligence shows, Maria, is that part of this was a Hillary Clinton plan, but part of it was an FBI plan to be an accelerant to that fake Steele dossier, to those fake Russia collusion claims by pouring oil on the fire, by amplifying the lie and bearing the truth of what was - what Hillary Clinton was up to,' the CIA director said. The dossier, a 2016 opposition research file crafted by former MI6 spy Christoper Steele against then-candidate Trump, was a central - and largely debunked - component of the FBI's 'Russiagate' investigation. Ratcliffe also noted how Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan have all testified about the case within the last five years. The statute for limitations for lying to Congress and the Department of Justice is five years, meaning the former officials could still be hit with charges. 'Much of that testimony is, frankly, completely inconsistent with what our underlying intelligence that is about to be declassified in the Durham annex, what that reflects,' Ratcliffe said. If the officials' testimony does not align with their past comments under oath they could be hit with perjury charges. 'They conspired against President Trump, they conspired against the American people,' the CIA director said. 'So, I'll leave it to Pam Bondi and our DOJ and Kash Patel and our FBI to investigate the conspiracy to do what, and what charges that they're capable of bringing.' A spokesperson for Clinton did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. However, some critics have slammed Ratcliffe for not releasing 'Russiagate' documents when he served as director of national intelligence during Trump's first term. 'Can anyone explain why John Ratcliffe, who held the same position as Tulsi (DNI) under Trump, totally failed to identify the Russian collusion coup hoax against Trump and was then promoted by Trump to head the CIA,' podcast host Clint Russell wrote on X. Last week, DNI Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents that she claims show how Obama-era intelligence officials 'manufactured and politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork.' She released a September 2020 report by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election. Donald Trump has long blamed former Obama officials for cooking up the infamous 'Russia hoax' against him The file disputes the claim that Russia interfered with Trump's first election on behalf of the Republican. Gabbard has said that she now has 'the evidence' to prosecute Obama officials. She also said she would be referring the evidence to the Department of Justice. Hillary and Bill Clinton were also the topic of discussion on Capitol Hill last week after lawmakers voted to subpoena the couple over their ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A motion from Rep. Scott Perry to have Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., solicit the former first couple's testimony passed last Wednesday. The effort also called for other high-profile Democrats with expected ties to the late pedophile to be subpoenaed. Former Attorneys General Eric Holder and Merrick Garland will also be compelled to testify. So will former special counsel Robert Mueller, who oversaw Trump's Russia collusion case. Perry's full wish list includes: William Jefferson Clinton, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, James Brian Comey, Loretta Elizabeth Lynch, Eric Hampton Holder, Jr., Merrick Brian Garland, Robert Swan Mueller III, William Pelham Barr, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions the third, and Alberto Gonzales.


The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Clinton exposed as Russiagate source? CIA's Ratcliffe teases more docs coming
CIA Director John Ratcliffe is stepping into the fray, backing up claims by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that Russiagate's origins can now be tied directly to a coterie of intelligence officials — and also former President Barack Obama, who allegedly directed his those officials, James Comey, John Brennan and James Clapper, to reach stronger conclusions about Russia's impact on the election, even though they knew there was no hacking. Now Ratcliffe says then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also involved. Let's watch his interview on Fox News: 'What hasn't come out yet and what's gong to come out is the underlying intelligence that I have spent the last few months making recommendations about — final declassification and sent that to the Department of Justice that will come out in the John Durham report classified annex. And what that intelligence shows, Maria, is that part of this was a Hillary Clinton plan, but part of it was an FBI plan to be an accelerant to that fake Steele dossier, to those fake Russia collusion claims by pouring oil on the fire, by amplifying the lie and burying the truth of what Hillary Clinton was up to.' Later in the interview, Ratcliffe said that he didn't think the statute of limitations would apply here, but he would leave to Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department to make a final determination. Now to be clear, that report on Hillary Clinton's involvement is still forthcoming. What you saw there was a teaser trailer of sorts. This all comes amidst a major push by Gabbard and the Trump administration to re-open the issue of Russiagate's origins. We now know that major claims in mainstream media about the extent of Russia's malfeasance and its connection to the Trump campaign were serially exaggerated at the behest of countless intelligence officials. Clinton, perhaps even more so than Obama, clearly bought into the idea that Russian activity cast down on Trump's win in 2016. She repeatedly called him an illegitimate president. In fact, even years later, in 2020, long after the ideological underpinnings of Russiagate had collapsed, Clinton was still making such claims. Here she was on a podcast in 2020: 'The one thing that Trump is fearful of when it comes to his being president is that finally we will see how illegitimate his victory actually was and how he was involved in the seeking of foreign help and then the utilization of it.' Hillary Clinton is of course entitled to continue being a sore loser about 2016, to shake her fist and say she really won that election. It's not true, but she can say it. But the American people deserve to know if fake and discredited intelligence about Russia, that smeared the Trump campaign, was pushed by her own team. If Ratcliffe has the goods, I for one look forward to seeing it.