Former President Barack Obama has denied President Donald Trump’s recent claim that he was the “ringleader” behind the Trump-Russia investigation, calling the accusation “bizarre” and a “weak attempt at distraction.”

The rare statement from Obama’s office followed Trump’s renewed push to investigate Obama and other former officials, based on newly declassified documents alleging the Obama administration politicized intelligence to create the Trump–Russia collusion narrative.

Trump also accused Hillary Clinton and her allies of orchestrating the effort, citing the discredited Steele dossier.

Multiple investigations, including the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee’s 2020 report, concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election but found no criminal conspiracy with the Trump campaign, Fox News has reported.

The controversy has reignited calls in Congress to release more Epstein-related files and intensified partisan divisions over the origins of the Russia probe.

Written by B.C. Begley