Former President Barack Obama drew criticism Tuesday after condemning Texas Republicans\u2019 efforts to redraw congressional district maps, claiming the move was a \u201cpower grab\u201d to win five seats in upcoming elections. Posting on X, Obama said the redistricting undermines democracy and promoted a \u201cTexas Call to Action\u201d event organized by the National Redistricting Foundation.<\/p>\n
However, critics were quick to point out the heavily gerrymandered map in Obama\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Obama\u2019s 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 \u201cRussiagate\u201d narrative to undermine Donald Trump\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Gabbard has formally requested that the DOJ investigate Obama and senior officials for possible conspiracy. Bondi has since launched a DOJ \u201cstrike force\u201d to review the documents and determine next steps. A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the inquiry is being taken \u201cvery seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n