Trump "happy to hear" DOJ launched grand jury probe of Obama officials
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President Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House after returning on July 29. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
President Trump on Tuesday said he was "happy to hear" Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury probe into the Obama administration's handling of the investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election.
The big picture: The development, which was first reported by Fox News and confirmed by multiple outlets, marks an escalation in the president's push to rehash the thoroughly investigated conclusion that Moscow interfered in the election.
- Trump has gone on offense against his political enemies, in part emboldened by a compliant DOJ, Axios' Zach Basu writes.
- He's also long held a grievance against the Russia investigation, which he's slammed as a "witch hunt" for years.
What he's saying: Asked Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box" about reports that the DOJ was tapping a grand jury on the matter, Trump said he had "nothing to do with it" but added, "they deserve it."
- He then claimed the 2020 election was rigged, saying, "What they did in the 2020 election is grotesque."
State of play: A grand jury investigation will enable prosecutors to subpoena documents and present evidence to secure a potential indictment.
- In a rare rebuke last month, a spokesperson for former President Obama called the administration's accusations "outrageous," "bizarre" and "a weak attempt at distraction."
- Who the grand jury will investigate from the Obama administration and what, if any, charges they could face remains unclear.
- The DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Zoom in: White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement provided to Axios that the administration "remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation."
- His statement continued, "This effort aims to provide the American people with the truth about the extent to which former government officials worked to sabotage the Trump administration and undermine the will of the American people in a clear attempt to subvert our Constitutional Republic."
Context: Trump has accused Obama and other political foes of trying to "rig an election" and claimed the former president committed "treason" following the release of a memo from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard alleging evidence of "suppression."
- It centered on findings from the Obama-era intelligence community that Russia didn't alter vote tallies by hacking election infrastructure. But no serious investigation ever claimed Russia did so.
- Gabbard also released a report drafted by House Republicans that questioned the analytical process behind the conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin favored Trump over Hillary Clinton.
- During a White House press briefing, Gabbard accused Obama and his national security team of directing "the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false."
Yes, but: Special counsel Robert Mueller and the GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee both concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump win.
Catch up quick: Gabbard, who accused the Obama administration of a "treasonous conspiracy" to sabotage Trump's presidency in 2016, referred her findings to the Justice Department, which last month announced the formation of a "Strike Force" to assess her evidence and consider legal steps.
- Bondi, at the time, vowed that the DOJ would "investigate these troubling disclosures fully and leave no stone unturned to deliver justice."
Go deeper: Trump's forever grudge ties Epstein files to Russia "hoax"
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the White House.
