Newly declassified documents from the Crossfire Hurricane investigation suggest that top officials in the Obama administration knew early on that Russia had no significant impact on the 2016 U.S. election outcome.
Intelligence reports advised then-President Barack Obama that although Russia attempted to interfere, their efforts did not alter any votes or affect the results. This directly challenges the longstanding narrative surrounding Trump-Russia collusion.
The documents were released by Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who emphasized that while cyber actors did target U.S. election systems, including some voter rolls, the core voting infrastructure remained secure and uncompromised.
The most notable incident involved attempted breaches in Illinois voter databases, but no evidence shows votes were changed or that Russian interference impacted Trump’s victory.
These revelations cast serious doubt on the years-long collusion investigation, which dominated public discourse and media coverage during much of Trump’s presidency.
Investigative journalist Paul Sperry uncovered emails and texts suggesting that Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign coordinated with Obama-era agencies—including the State Department, National Security Council, and intelligence community—to link Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These alleged communications date back to July 2016, well before the public narrative took shape, indicating a deliberate strategy to craft a connection between Trump and Russia.
The disclosures appear to support Donald Trump’s claims that the collusion narrative was a politically motivated operation aimed at discrediting his campaign and presidency.
Former officials such as CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director James Comey are now under renewed scrutiny. The FBI is reportedly reviewing whether criminal investigations should be launched into possible misconduct or concealment.
Further declassifications are being considered, including transcripts from the Durham probe and Brennan’s congressional testimony. Authorities are investigating whether certain officials committed perjury or conspiracy.
These developments may reshape public understanding of the 2016 election and the multi-year investigation that followed, raising questions about political weaponization of intelligence and the integrity of those involved.
As the full picture emerges, calls for accountability are growing—both from political allies of Trump and from those demanding transparency in government investigations.
