Victor Davis Hanson: Obama Administration's Alleged Trump-Russia Collusion Setup

Tulsi Gabbard's Document Release

• 💡 A release of documents by Tulsi Gabbard alleges that Barack Obama and top intelligence officials conspired to create a false narrative of Trump-Russia collusion.
• 📌 The new information suggests that despite claims of confirmation from "17 intelligence agencies," no such consensus existed.

Intelligence Officials' Knowledge and Actions

• 🧠 Documents and notes indicate that intelligence heads like John Brennan and James Clapper knew there was no evidence of collusion.
• ⚠️ It is alleged that Obama was presented with this assessment and insisted on an assessment that supported collusion, akin to "find me the crime and I have the criminal."
• 🗣️ Clapper and Brennan's potential responses are speculated to be: "we knew it but we lied," or "Obama told us to lie."

Impact on Trump and U.S. Credibility

• 🎯 The alleged misinformation campaign damaged Trump's 2016 campaign, his presidential transition, and his presidency.
• 📉 It undermined the U.S.'s moral high ground in foreign policy, particularly concerning Russia and Ukraine.
• 🇺🇸 The narrative of Trump being a "Russian asset" persisted even after officials left office, weakening the American president's credibility in dealings with adversaries like Putin.

Investigations and Future Implications

• 🔍 Investigations by Nunes, Horowitz, and Durham have explored the origins of the Trump-Russia narrative.
• ⚖️ Hanson suggests that individuals involved may not face legal consequences due to the nature of the "administrative state."
• 🌍 The scandal is described as potentially worse than Watergate or Iran-Contra, with further dimensions yet to be revealed.