Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is in the news these days for some pretty inflammatory allegations against former President Barack Obama and top national security officials. She alleges they all conspired to create false intelligence that Russian President Vladimir Putin had infiltrated US presidential election to aid Donald Trump. According to Gabbard’s allegations, as detailed in a July 18th letter of intent, which has caused widespread outrage and condemnation. Susan Miller, a former intelligence official who worked critically to assess Russian interference has brusquely shot those talking points down.
Gabbard’s case was that they were pushing back against a campaign from Obama in the weeks after Trump’s victory to create lying reports to delegitimize the new President. She argued that this through-the-looking-glass abuse of process was designed to delegitimize Trump’s status as president. Gabbard pointed to a 2020 House of Representatives intelligence committee report. Most importantly, it showed that Putin sought to discredit U.S. confidence in the democratic process, not elevate any individual candidate.
Fighter pilot turned congresswoman, in her report Gabbard went on to call the intelligence community’s conclusions about Russian interference a “hoax.” Specifically, she emphasized that unanimous findings by Obama were that no evidence was found that voting machines had been hacked. Such lack of evidence is no way to keep an election intact. She did not directly accuse Miller or her team by name in her allegations. Observers noted that this omission was clearly intentional.
Gabbard has turned the case over to Pam Bondi, the state’s attorney general. She is intent on holding accountable what she considers to be intelligence community misconduct. Gabbard’s stated background in Congress offers no tangible experience or expertise specifically with the House Intelligence Committee. This absence brings into doubt her authority for making those allegations.
Miller, who leads an eight-member team of prosecutors and investigators focused on foreign election meddling, responded with disbelief at Gabbard’s allegations. Equally acute was his sense of missed opportunity. She noted that Gabbard’s accusations misrepresented the findings of her team’s work.
“Tulsi comes out and doesn’t use my name, doesn’t use the names of the people in my team, but basically says this was all wrong and made up, et cetera.” – Susan Miller
Miller made a point of saying that their conclusions came from trusted sources, not from any top-down orders coming out of the Obama White House.
“This had to do with our sources and what they were finding. It had nothing to do with Obama telling us to do this,” – Susan Miller
Miller slammed Gabbard’s understanding of the intelligence community’s process. He challenged her knowledge and experience in dealing with Russian operatives and how to engage in covert operations.
“Has she ever met a Russian agent? Has she ever handled an agent?” – Susan Miller
That’s quite a claim to substantiate, Gabbard – and a number of important public officials have still not responded as Gabbard has. This means former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former FBI Director James Comey.
Miller, who now leads the Alliance for Better Nonprofits, religiously defended her team’s work against Gabbard’s attacks. She maintained their conclusions were based on strong evidence – not a political agenda.
“It is not a hoax,” – Susan Miller
She argued for how Gabbard’s allegations undermine the reputations of those who spent years trying to figure out Russian interference.
“My reputation and my team’s reputation is on the line,” – Susan Miller
The debate continues to this day, and some onlookers are scratching their heads. Others suggest that the motivation behind Gabbard’s actions is the pursuit of vengeance against political foes, particularly given her connections to Trump’s inner circle.