US attorney general orders grand jury hearings on Trump-Russia probe

August 5, 2025

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered prosecutors to investigate allegations that political opponents conspired to falsely accuse Donald Trump of colluding with Russia before the 2016 election. According to CBS News, prosecutors will present evidence to a grand jury to determine if formal charges should be filed, though specific potential charges and suspects remain unclear. This development follows recent claims by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that the Obama administration conducted a "years-long coup" against Trump by politicizing intelligence about Russian election interference.

Who is affected

Donald Trump and his political allies
Former President Barack Obama and his national security team
Former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey
Hillary Clinton and her campaign
Leonard Benardo of Open Society Foundations and Julianna Smith (Clinton foreign policy adviser)
U.S. intelligence community and Justice Department officials involved in the Russia investigation

What action is being taken

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered prosecutors to open legal proceedings into allegations against Trump's political opponents
Prosecutors are preparing to submit evidence to a grand jury
The Justice Department is investigating claims about a conspiracy to falsely accuse Trump of Russian collusion
Previously classified documents from the Durham inquiry are being reviewed and analyzed
Fox News reports that former intelligence officials Brennan and Comey are under criminal investigation

Why it matters

The investigation reopens questions about the legitimacy of the original Russia probe that consumed half of Trump's first presidency
It represents a significant shift in the Justice Department's approach to the "Russiagate" allegations
The case touches on fundamental questions about potential politicization of intelligence agencies
It follows contradictory conclusions from multiple investigations, including the Mueller report (which found no proof of Trump-Russia coordination) and bipartisan Senate intelligence findings (which concluded Russia tried to help Trump's campaign)
The investigation may determine whether federal law enforcement was improperly used for political purposes

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC