Newly declassified information from the Crossfire Hurricane investigation—related to alleged Trump-Russia collusion—reveals that U.S. intelligence officials concluded Russia had no significant role in Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory. The memo, released by Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, directly contradicts years of speculation that Russian interference swayed the outcome against Hillary Clinton.
The 2016 memo, addressed to then-President Barack Obama, stated that neither Russian cyber activities nor criminal actors had compromised election infrastructure or voting systems. Although it acknowledged attempts to breach voter rolls in places like Illinois, it concluded that these efforts failed to alter or affect election results in any measurable way.
Senior investigative journalist Paul Sperry reported that text messages and emails suggest coordination between the Obama White House, the State Department, and Hillary Clinton’s campaign to connect Trump to Russia. These communications allegedly began in July 2016 and aimed to generate damaging narratives before Trump’s presidency began.
The memo’s release bolsters Trump’s long-standing claim that the Russia collusion narrative was a politically motivated hoax designed to delegitimize his presidency. The Obama administration and intelligence community officials are now facing intensified scrutiny over their roles in launching and promoting the investigation.
Current CIA Director John Ratcliffe has accused former CIA chief John Brennan of withholding parts of the investigation and pushing the now-discredited Steele dossier, which falsely linked Trump to Russian agents. Brennan could face legal consequences, including conspiracy to commit perjury, depending on the outcome of ongoing reviews.
A 200-page congressional audit and transcripts from John Durham’s special counsel probe are under review for possible declassification. Gabbard’s disclosure may mark the beginning of a broader transparency push. Meanwhile, former FBI Director James Comey is also under renewed investigation, adding further momentum to demands for accountability.
