Trump suggests Obama benefits from SCOTUS immunity ruling, reignites claims over 2016 election intelligence and Russiagate origins.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Barack Obama “owes me big” following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity.
Speaking days after the ruling, Trump claimed the decision could also shield Obama, whom he described as the “ringleader” of the Trump–Russia collusion narrative. “He’s done criminal acts, there’s no question about it. But he has immunity… Obama owes me big,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks followed a Fox News report citing a declassified House Intelligence Committee document that alleged members of Obama’s administration “manufactured” intelligence in the lead-up to the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment.
The report, released under former DNI Tulsi Gabbard, accused officials of rushing the report based on questionable sources.
Obama has denied the allegations. “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” his spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said.
Gabbard said some intelligence officials tried to suppress the findings, citing “deep state obstacles” to public disclosure.