In a sweeping move that’s reigniting one of the most divisive chapters in modern U.S. political history, US Attorney General Pam Bondi has formally ordered a federal grand jury investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe often referred to as “Russiagate 2025.”
The inquiry targets former Obama administration officials who allegedly pushed unfounded narratives of Russian collusion during the 2016 election cycle.
According to multiple senior officials familiar with the case, the Department of Justice has convened the grand jury in Washington to examine whether intelligence reports were deliberately manipulated to justify surveillance and investigations against then-candidate Donald Trump.
“The American people deserve full transparency into how our intelligence and law enforcement agencies were used during a presidential election,” Bondi said in a press briefing Monday. “We will follow the facts wherever they lead.”
What’s Being Investigated?
The grand jury will focus on a narrow but explosive question: Did senior Obama-era officials including former CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey, and DNI James Clapper mislead the public and misrepresent intelligence in a coordinated attempt to damage Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign?
This follows a formal criminal referral issued by current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who earlier this year declassified documents suggesting possible abuse of power and coordination among intelligence leaders.
“There’s mounting evidence that a group of unelected officials weaponized their positions to subvert the democratic process,” Gabbard wrote in her June 2025 referral to DOJ.
Background: What Do the Numbers Show?
The 2017 Mueller investigation cost U.S. taxpayers over $32 million and concluded with no evidence of criminal conspiracy between Trump and Russia. However, a subsequent 2023 report by Special Counsel John Durham criticized the FBI’s handling of the probe, citing “serious intelligence failures” and “political bias.”
01. Cost of Russiagate investigations: $32 million+
02. Indictments from Durham probe: 3 low-level figures, no senior convictions
03. Voter opinion: A June 2025 Gallup poll showed 59% of Americans support a new investigation into Russiagate’s origins
Who Could Face Legal Exposure?
While no one has been charged, legal analysts say the grand jury could compel testimony from:
01.John Brennan – Former CIA Director
02. James Comey – Former FBI Director
03. James Clapper – Former Director of National Intelligence
04. Susan Rice – Former National Security Advisor
If the jury finds sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, formal indictments could follow by year’s end.
However, constitutional scholars caution that prosecuting former government officials over policy-related decisions or intelligence interpretations will be legally and politically complex.
Political Firestorm on Both Sides
The investigation has divided Washington and the country. Conservatives hailed Bondi’s decision as long-overdue accountability.
“This is what justice looks like,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). “We were told for years that Trump was a traitor. It was all built on a lie.”
Meanwhile, Democrats and former Obama officials have dismissed the grand jury as a politically motivated stunt intended to distract from Trump’s own legal woes.
“This is pure political theater,” said former Attorney General Eric Holder. “It’s the criminalization of disagreement, and it sets a dangerous precedent.”
Online Reaction & Media Frenzy
The news triggered a social media firestorm, with hashtags like #RussiagateHoax, #ObamaUnderOath, and #BondiProbe trending across X (formerly Twitter), Truth Social, and Reddit.
Right-leaning influencers and conservative media celebrated the move, while mainstream outlets urged caution, pointing to the lack of prior indictments in similar investigations.
According to X analytics firm Meltwater, posts related to the Bondi grand jury probe garnered over 11 million impressions in under 12 hours, signaling massive public interest.
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What Happens Next?
Legal experts expect the grand jury to begin issuing subpoenas within the week. Testimonies may stretch into late fall, just as the 2026 midterm campaigns heat up.
Sources inside DOJ told White News 18 that the Bondi team is taking an “aggressively neutral approach,” aiming to avoid leaks and political optics.
While it’s unclear whether the investigation will lead to criminal charges, the political and historical implications are already profound.
“We’re witnessing the reversal of a narrative that shaped an entire presidency,” said constitutional law professor David Rivkin. “This could redefine the legacy of Russiagate and maybe Obama’s too.”
Brief
As the grand jury convenes behind closed doors, one thing is certain: the ghosts of 2016 still haunt the political landscape. For the Biden White House and the Republican opposition, this investigation could become a defining issue for 2026 and a full-circle moment for Donald Trump’s legacy.