Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered a new grand jury investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. The probe is not focused on what Russia did, but what the Obama White House did to look into it.

Washington

The U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has ordered a grand jury investigation into the Obama administration's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This follows a criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who alleged the creation of a fake intelligence document and described the actions as a 'years-long coup.'

Democrats have rejected these claims, referencing a bipartisan Senate investigation that found Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election. Former President Obama has not commented on the new probe, but his spokesperson previously dismissed the allegations as 'bizarre and ridiculous.'

DOJ launching probe into Russia's 2016 election interference

All right, on the campaign trail, President Trump promised he'd go after those who have investigated him. Now, his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has ordered a new grand jury probe. She wants to look into the Obama administration's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Weijia Jiang is at the White House. Weijia, good morning. Nate, good morning to you. Good morning to everybody. A source familiar with Attorney General Pam Bondi's efforts tells CBS News she has directed Justice Department staff to begin legal proceedings and ordered a federal prosecutor to present evidence to a grand jury, which could consider an indictment if the DOJ pursues a criminal case. It's unclear what the charges could be and who would face them, but we know President Trump, without evidence, has accused former President Obama of treason, leading an effort to link Trump to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign. This comes after Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, made a criminal referral to the DOJ last month, saying there was expressed intent to create a fake manufactured intelligence document and evidence that, quote, can only be described as a years-long coup and a treasonous conspiracy against the American people. Democrats dispute her claims, pointing to the findings of a bipartisan Senate investigation that was co-chaired by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio that concluded that Russia had attempted to influence the 2016 election. Obama has not commented on Bondi's investigation, but last month, a spokesman for him called Gabbard's allegations bizarre and ridiculous. Gail. All right, Weijia, thank you very much.

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