Former President Barack Obama drew criticism Tuesday after condemning Texas Republicans’ efforts to redraw congressional district maps, claiming the move was a “power grab” to win five seats in upcoming elections. Posting on X, Obama said the redistricting undermines democracy and promoted a “Texas Call to Action” event organized by the National Redistricting Foundation.

However, critics were quick to point out the heavily gerrymandered map in Obama’s home state of Illinois, where he once served as a U.S. senator. Images shared online highlighted an unusually shaped district cutting through central Illinois, surrounded by Republican-leaning areas, sparking accusations of hypocrisy.

Obama’s post also reignited broader political tensions. Social media users accused him of deflecting attention from a growing federal investigation into allegations that members of his administration orchestrated the “Russiagate” narrative to undermine Donald Trump’s presidency. Some referred to a meme shared by Trump, parodying the O.J. Simpson police chase, showing Obama being pursued by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly convened a federal grand jury to investigate claims that Obama-era officials fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election. The investigation stems from a referral by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who declassified documents she claims challenge the original conclusions about Russian meddling.

Gabbard has formally requested that the DOJ investigate Obama and senior officials for possible conspiracy. Bondi has since launched a DOJ “strike force” to review the documents and determine next steps. A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the inquiry is being taken “very seriously.”