DNI Gabbard Blows Open ‘Russiagate’ Hoax Implicating Obama-Era Officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the intelligence community, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard released a declassified memo on Friday that appears to dismantle the long-standing "Russiagate" narrative. The document provides the clearest evidence to date that high-ranking officials in the Obama administration were informed that Russia played no significant role in Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, even as they launched the "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation.
The "Smoking Gun" Memo
The 2016 memo, addressed directly to then-President Barack Obama, stated explicitly: “Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure.” While the intelligence community noted failed targeting attempts, the memo confirmed that voting systems remained untouched and election outcomes were never altered.
DNI Gabbard’s disclosure serves as a major vindication for President Trump, who has consistently characterized the Russia collusion investigation as a partisan hoax. Senior officials now suggest that the Obama administration and the Clinton campaign "schemed the operation," using the CIA and FBI to run an internal influence campaign more consequential than any foreign interference.
Criminal Referrals and Retribution
The pressure is now mounting on the architects of the probe. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has indicated that career intelligence officials are preparing evidence for a potential criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey.
A 200-page congressional audit currently under review explores whether Brennan committed perjury during his testimony to Congress regarding the use of the discredited Steele dossier. Investigators believe that while the statute of limitations for perjury may have lapsed, charges for "conspiracy to commit perjury" remain a viable legal avenue.
Comey Under Scrutiny
James Comey also remains under intense pressure. Following a series of cryptic social media posts that some officials viewed as suggestive of violence, reports indicate he was visited by the Secret Service earlier this year. As the DOJ and intelligence agencies weigh the declassification of further "Crossfire Hurricane" notes and transcripts from the Durham investigation, the narrative of the 2016 election is being fundamentally rewritten in the halls of power.
Senate Democrats warily eye new allegations about Platner
Three women who were romantically involved with Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner described to The New York Times his “unsettling and at times emotionally wrenching” behavior.
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks during a campaign event near the entrance to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on May 19, 2026, in Kittery, Maine.
Senate Democrats are still digesting a report with new allegations surrounding a candidate running for Senate in Maine whom Democrats hope will help them recapture the majority come November.
But at least one Democratic senator, who conceded she had yet to read The New York Times’ report on Graham Platner, is sick of talking about alleged bad behavior by men.
“I look forward to the day where I am not answering every single week a question about bad behavior by another dude,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., told MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace Thursday night.
Platner, 41, is facing a fresh round of allegations after several of his former girlfriends accused him of “toxic,” “unsettling” and “violent” behavior days before Maine’s June 9 primary. The new allegations were first reported Thursday by the Times. The article was based on interviews with more than two dozen people, including six women who dated Platner.
“First of all, I think about the women who are coming forward,” Slotkin told MS NOW, noting that her staff informed her of the Times’ reporting. “Second of all, I think if there are allegations of violence, I got a real problem with that, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican. If there’s violence, that’s not okay.”
Platner denied “anything alleging physicality” in an interview with MS NOW’s Chris Hayes on Thursday night.
He also pushed back on concerns voiced by Slotkin, telling Hayes, “My response is that I agree, but those allegations are false.”
In the Times’ report, some women offered positive accounts, describing Platner as caring and supportive. But three former partners recounted turbulent relationships with Platner, alleging he was demeaning toward women, drank heavily and was frequently unfaithful. In one instance, one woman recalled he also made physical threats.
One of the accusers, Lyndsey Fifield, recalled two specific incidents where she alleged Platner was physical with her. Fifield said Platner pulled her by her wrist out of a taxicab in once incident and in another, she alleged Platner twisted her arm and trapped her in a bedroom.
Platner’s campaign told the Times he “strongly disputes” allegations that he physically intimidated or threatened anyone.
The allegations have tested Democratic support for a candidate viewed as the party’s strongest challenger to incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said the new allegations reinforced his concerns.
“I did not see that coming … he’s like in Texas, for every ranch you see, there’s another 50 you won’t,” Fetterman told NOTUS. “He lied about his Nazi tattoo and assured people there wouldn’t be more. He just came here a day ago and said nothing more, nothing more, and then so this, so nothing’s changed for me.”
Speaking to NOTUS, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., called the report “troubling,” adding it’s “up to the voters of Maine to decide.”
Platner met privately with Senate Democrats on Tuesday as questions swirled about his personal conduct. Despite the controversies, several progressive leaders, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have continued to support Platner’s candidacy.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said in a statement that the behavior described in the Times “was wrong and toxic,” but he added, “Graham has acknowledged that and sought redemption.”
“The people of Maine deserve a senator who is going to stand up to the billionaire class, against genocide, and for the working class,” Khanna said.
Platner’s alleged patterns of volatility
The latest accusations add to a series of controversies that have dogged Platner’s campaign.
Last week, reports surfaced that he sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women during his marriage. His wife, Amy Gertner, publicly defended him and criticized the release of private communications. Platner responded to the initial reports in an earlier statement to CBS News, saying, “Amy and I went through something hard — because of me.”
On Thursday, Platner’s former girlfriends described to the Times a pattern of “volatile” behavior, including derogatory comments about women and discussions of violence.
One woman alleged Platner made comments about rape during conversations about home intruders. The Times said a campaign official did not dispute that comment.
She also disputed Platner’s previous explanation of a tattoo resembling a Nazi “death’s head” symbol, saying he taught her the term years ago and referred to the tattoo as “my Totenkopf.” Platner previously said he got the tattoo while serving in the military and did not understand its historical significance at the time. Platner’s campaign strongly denied he knew the tattoo’s meaning in response to that allegation, and last year, his campaign said he covered it up.
Platner, who has been open about his struggles with PTSD following his military service, told MS NOW in a statement that he was “far from a perfect boyfriend” and frequently self-medicated with alcohol during a “very dark period” of his life.
“Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated. I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine,” Platner said in the statement.
Platner remains the leading Democratic candidate in the race after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the primary in April after trailing him in polls for months. A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll, conducted May 21-25, found Platner led Collins 51% to 42% in the general election matchup.
PART 2: Discover the rest of the story in the comments section.
The kitchen remained silent. No one moved. No one spoke. Alejandro stood over the table, slowly turning page after page. With every document he read, the color drained further from his face. I had seen my husband angry before. I'd seen him frustrated. Exhausted. Heartbroken. But I had never seen this expression. It was the look of a soldier uncovering an enemy.
Methodical. Focused. Dangerously calm. "What is it?" I asked quietly. For several seconds, he didn't answer. Then he held up a document. "Did you ever meet with Dr. Peterson?" I frowned. "No." He looked at another paper. "Did you ever report suicidal thoughts?" My heart stopped. "What?" "Did you?" "Of course not!" Alejandro's jaw tightened. The document in his hand was.
The document in his hand was a psychiatric evaluation. According to the report, I suffered from severe depression. Paranoia. Emotional instability. Potential risk to a child. Every word was a lie. A complete fabrication. Yet the paperwork looked official. Signed. Stamped. Filed. My stomach turned. "Who wrote that?" Alejandro slowly placed the document on the table. "No licensed psychiatrist." I stared.
"What do you mean?" He pointed toward the signature. "The license number is fake." Across the room, Margaret's breathing became noticeably heavier. The police dispatcher was still connected through Alejandro's phone. Everything was being recorded. Every word. Every reaction. Every lie. Alejandro picked up another folder. Inside were photographs. Dozens of them. I felt sick immediately. They were pictures of me.
Leaving grocery stores. Walking into medical offices. Sitting alone on park benches. Some had obviously been taken from far away. Without my knowledge. Without my consent. My hands started shaking. "Oh my God." Alejandro's face hardened. "This has been going on for months." The realization hit me like a truck. Every strange feeling. Every moment I thought I was being watched.
Every unexplained encounter. I hadn't imagined any of it. Someone really had been following me. And judging by Margaret's silence... She knew exactly who. A knock interrupted the tension. Police officers entered through the front door. Two uniformed officers. Then a detective. The detective immediately noticed the hot iron. The forged military notice. The stack of suspicious documents. And Margaret standing.
And Margaret standing alone near the kitchen counter. "This is quite a scene," he said quietly. Alejandro handed him the fake casualty notice. The detective read it. His expression changed instantly. "Where did this come from?" No one answered. The detective looked directly at Margaret. "Ma'am?" She swallowed. "I found it in the mail." The detective raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."
He flipped the document over. Then pointed at the military seal. "This seal hasn't been used in seven years." Silence. Absolute silence. The lie had collapsed immediately. The detective slowly nodded. "Let's try again." Margaret looked away. For the first time that night, she seemed genuinely nervous. The detective turned toward Alejandro. "Captain, we'll need statements from everyone." Alejandro nodded.
Then he handed over another document. And another. And another. The detective's expression grew darker with every page. Finally he stopped. "What exactly was she planning to do with these?" Nobody answered. But I suddenly knew. The answer had been sitting in front of me the entire time. The forged psychiatric evaluations. The canceled appointments. The photographs. The custody forms.
The fake military death notice. All connected. One horrifying plan. If Alejandro had truly died overseas... Margaret would have filed for emergency custody. She would have argued that I was mentally unstable. Unable to care for a newborn. Dangerous. Unfit. And because Alejandro would supposedly be dead... No one would be left to challenge her. The realization made me dizzy.
She wasn't trying to help. She was trying to take my baby. The detective seemed to reach the same conclusion. His eyes narrowed. "Ma'am, why were you attempting to obtain custody?" Margaret's mask finally cracked. Completely. Years of fake smiles. Fake concern. Fake kindness. Gone. She slammed both hands onto the counter. "Because she doesn't deserve that child!" The room froze.
Even the officers looked startled. Margaret pointed directly at me. "She trapped my son." My mouth fell open. "What?" "You heard me." Tears streamed down her face. Real tears this time. But they weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of obsession. Possession. Control. "You took him from me." The detective exchanged a glance with one of the officers. Alejandro simply stared.
As though he were looking at a stranger. Margaret continued. "He was supposed to stay with family." "Mom." "He was supposed to need me." "Mom." "But then you showed up." Her finger remained pointed at me. Accusing. Trembling. "You got pregnant." The room became painfully quiet. And then she said something that made everyone's blood run cold. "I was only trying."
"I was only trying to save my grandson." The detective frowned. "Save him from what?" Margaret laughed. A strange, broken laugh. Then she whispered: "From becoming hers." No one spoke. Because suddenly the situation felt much bigger than greed. Much bigger than custody. Much bigger than family conflict. This wasn't about legal documents anymore. This was obsession. And obsession was unpredictable. Dangerous.
The detective slowly stepped closer. "Mrs. Castillo, I need you to come with us." Margaret's eyes widened. Then something changed. A flash of panic. Real panic. For one brief second, she looked toward the hallway. Toward the staircase. Toward the second floor. Alejandro noticed it immediately. So did the detective. Everyone did. The glance lasted less than a second. But it was.
But it was enough. The detective followed her line of sight. "What’s upstairs?" Margaret's face went white. Nobody answered. The detective turned to one of his officers. "Check it out." The officer headed upstairs. The rest of us waited. Thirty seconds. One minute. Two minutes. Then we heard him shout. "Detective! You need to see this." The officer sounded shocked. Terrified.
The detective hurried upstairs. Alejandro followed. I remained frozen in the kitchen. My heart pounding. Wondering what could possibly be worse than everything we'd already discovered. Three minutes later, Alejandro returned. His face was pale. Completely pale. The detective came down behind him carrying a large plastic storage box. Inside were hundreds of photographs. Baby clothes. Medical records. Ultrasound copies.
A nursery plan. A birth certificate application. And one item that made my blood run cold. A framed photograph. Not of Margaret. Not of Alejandro. Of me. With my face scratched out. Repeatedly. Violently. Alejandro stared at the box. Then at his mother. And in a voice barely above a whisper, he asked: "How long have you been planning this?"
Margaret said nothing. But the answer was already sitting inside that box. For much longer than anyone had imagined. And the detective had just uncovered evidence that could turn this custody dispute into something far more serious.
