Trump accuses Obama of treason in attacks over 2016 Russia probe

“It’s there. He’s guilty. They — this was treason,” US President Donald Trump said as he accused former president Barack Obama of “treason” on Tuesday.

Without providing evidence, he said Obama led an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign. “They tried to steal the election. They tried to obfuscate the election, they did things that nobody’s ever even imagined, even in other countries,” Trump added.

Trump was seizing on comments from his intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, last Friday.

Gabbard said at the time she was releasing documents that showed a “treasonous conspiracy” in 2016 by top Obama administration officials to undermine Trump, by manufacturing intelligence on Russia’s interference in the election.

That charge is contradicted by a CIA review published earlier this month, a 2018 bipartisan Senate report and the documents that Gabbard herself declassified.

Trump has recently been seeking to divert attention to other issues after coming under pressure from his conservative base to release more information about Jeffrey Epstein.

The disgraced financier and sex offender died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Backers of conspiracy theories about Epstein have urged Trump, who socialized with him during the 1990s and early 2000s, to release investigative files related to the case.

Asked in the Oval Office about Epstein, Trump quickly pivoted into an attack on Obama.

“The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama absolutely cold.”

Trump suggested action would be taken against Obama and his former officials.

“It’s time to start, after what they did to me, and whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly.”

While Trump has frequently attacked Obama by name, it’s the furthest he’s gone since returning to office in pointing the finger at his democratic predecessor with allegations of criminal action.

A spokesperson for Obama denounced Trump’s claims, saying “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

“Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Also read: US to leave UN cultural agency UNESCO again, diplomats say