Gingrich: Congress has ‘obligation’ to call Obama to testify on Russia – Politico
Speaking on Fox News's "Fox & Friends," Newt Gingrich says that "Congress is about to have to call Barack Obama in to testify under oath about when he knew about Russia meddling." | Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Congressional committees in both the House and Senate have an obligation to call in former President Barack Obama to testify as to what his administration knew regarding Russias campaign to interfere in last years presidential election and when it became aware of those efforts, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday morning.
Guess what's about to happen: The Congress is about to have to call Barack Obama in to testify under oath about when he knew about Russia meddling, Gingrich said on Fox Newss Fox & Friends. Who told him? Why did he do nothing? Who was in the meetings when he decided to do nothing? It's going to turn out, yes, there's a big Russian story. It's Barack Obama. Not Donald Trump. And you cannot make this stuff up.
Story Continued Below
Obamas response to the Russian campaign of cyberattacks has come under increased scrutiny in recent days since the publication of a Washington Post report detailing how and when the former president became aware of the Kremlins efforts as well as what retaliatory steps were taken. Obama was first made aware of the Russian cyberattack campaign in August, according to the Post.
Denis McDonough, Obamas White House chief of staff, defended his former bosss handling of the attacks in an interview with the Post, but another, unnamed administration official said that the Obama administration had choked in dealing with Russias interference efforts.
President Donald Trump, consumed by controversy regarding the multiple ongoing Russia investigations, has sought to turn the tables on his political foes by working to shift attention away from probes into whether or not anyone associated with him colluded with the Kremlin and onto Obamas handling of the cyberattack. Trump has accused his predecessor of willfully doing nothing to stop the Russians so as not to upset the 2016 campaign and Democrat Hillary Clintons perceived status as the likely winner.
Sign up for our must-read newsletter on what's driving the afternoon in Washington.
By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time.
While it took until December for the U.S. intelligence community to formally release a declassified report detailing that Russia had indeed sought to interfere in the 2016 election, and had done so with the aim of aiding Trumps candidacy and harming Clintons, the White House had made public as far back as October that the Kremlin was behind the wave of cyberattacks against mostly Democratic targets.
But Gingrich said Tuesday that Congress must seek answers from Obama as to why he did not do more to stop the cyberattacks during the campaign.
The Congress has an obligation to call him in. How can you be told the president of the United States knew last August the Russians were, in fact, involved in this and not ask him and ask him under oath? I mean, how can you be so irresponsible? the former speaker said.
The House and Senate are going to have to call Obama in and say, Who told you? When did you have the meetings? Who advised you? Why did you not decide to do anything? And then why did you keep quiet for six months while everybody looked at the Russians and Trump when you, in fact, had this information last August?
Missing out on the latest scoops? Sign up for POLITICO Playbook and get the latest news, every morning in your inbox.
Read more:
Gingrich: Congress has 'obligation' to call Obama to testify on Russia - Politico
- Obama heads to Atlanta to rally voters for Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms - CBS News - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Video: Opinion | The Echoes of Obama in Abdul El-Sayeds Campaign - The New York Times - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- The BU Alum Behind the Obama Presidential Centers Food, Art, and Events - Boston University - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Trump to rally in Kansas, Obama to campaign in 3 states as early voting expands - Spectrum News - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Obama Unloads on Trump Over His 'Appalling Conduct Toward Rep. Ilhan Omar - The Daily Beast - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Election 2026 updates: Obama coming to Cleveland, videos from recent campaign stops - The Land - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Barack Obama is coming to Atlanta to campaign for Ossoff and Bottoms - Axios - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Former President Obama joins Ossoff, Bottoms - the Southerner Online - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- President Trump and former President Obama to visit Georgia ahead of midterms - 95.5 WSB - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Obama Accuses Trump Administration Of Intimidating Ilhan Omar Over Political Views - Arise News - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Obama Slams Trump Probe into Ilhan Omar as 'Appalling' and Says It's Everyone's Problem - Latin Times - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Obama coming to Georgia to rally for Jon Ossoff, Keisha Bottoms - Yahoo - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Obama to hold rally in Atlanta with Ossoff and Bottoms - 11Alive.com - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- PBS Has a New History Special Featuring Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton - Parade Magazine - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- This Week on the Hill: Michigan Senate debate, Trump rallies and Obama hits the trail - The Hill - October 19th, 2026 [October 19th, 2026]
- Trump says he could still go after Clintons, Obama to destroy their reputations - The Hill - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Barack Obama pays tribute to Manchester cotton workers and cites them as an inspiration - The Guardian - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Takes a Cool-Girl Approach to Fall Dressing With Unexpected Pants - InStyle - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Peter Thiel says Obama and Pope Leo are exploiting AI fears in his latest Antichrist lectures - Fortune - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- 'Not As Hopeful As I Want To Be': Barack Obama Warns Israeli Right-wing Shift Threatens Peace - i24NEWS - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Barack Obama to campaign with Ohio Democrats as he expands his outreach ahead of Election Day - AP News - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Puts Her Dazzling $50,000 Ring Stack on Display With Perfect Fall Outfit - InStyle - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- The Blogs: Time to Tune Out Obama - The Times of Israel - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama steps out for unexpected girls' night with Megan Thee Stallion and La La Anthony in LA - HOLA - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Obama urges Nevadans to elect Attorney General Aaron Ford as governor in new video - KRXI - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Ex-Obama aide restructures comms and lobbying firm - PRWeek - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Barack Obama Says Israel Took Land From Palestinians, Warns It Will Lose Moral Ground: how 11 outlets framed it - NewsCord - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Barack Obama to campaign with Ohio Democrats as he expands his outreach ahead of Election Day - Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Obama warns donors that races are 'on the razor's edge' as he ramps up midterm push - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama, Praising Past White House Remodels, Takes Veiled Aim at Trump - The New York Times - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Sam Kass, former Obama family personal chef and policy adviser, wins the Julia Child Award - Chicago Tribune - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama raises more than $13 million for Democrats, urges voters to "turn hope into action" at ballot box in November - CBS News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama Foundation and Presidential Center employees are organizing with AFSCME - afscme - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Boston: The remarkable Bush-Obama friendship - Dallas News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Mike Ditka tributes pour in from President Trump, former President Obama, Chicago and the NFL - AP News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Former President Barack Obama endorses David Crowley in Wisconsin race for governor - News From The States - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama Foundation and Presidential Center workers to unionize: We don't even have a seat at the table - Chicago Sun-Times - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Trump says he could have done very bad things to Biden, Obama and Clinton - MS NOW - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- KFile: El-Sayed has history of knocking Obama & his failures - CNN - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Trump: I could have done bad things to Hillary Clinton, Biden, Obama - The Hill - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- At the Races: Unleash Obama - Roll Call - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Democrats see hope with Obama on the campaign trail - Denver Gazette - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama endorses Crowley for Wisconsin governor - The Daily Cardinal - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama lowers boom on Trump over White House renovations - SILive.com - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Trump says he rejected investigating Biden, Obama out of 'respect' for office - USA Today - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama: Care For This Country as We Would Our Own Children - East Wing Magazine - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- NEWS OF THE WEEK: Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate 34 years wed - Yahoo - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- El-Sayed Has Trump Fuming, AOC Buzzing and Obama Stumping - WSJ - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Former Obama advisor tells divided Maine Democrats to 'get over your s---' and win the race - Fox News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Abdul El-Sayed Criticized Obama for Years. Now Theyre Campaigning Together - National Review - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Steps Out in Monochromatic Look That Puts a Twist on Her Signature Style - InStyle - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Barack Obama is in Massachusetts today. Here's why - NBC Boston - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WDBJ7 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama Visits KC, First Day of Fall - Flatland KC - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - FOX5 Vegas - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Obama Presidential Center - Chicago Maroon - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WTHI-TV - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WJHG - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - ABC7 WWSB - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - Valley News Live - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WTOC - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - wvlt.tv - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WBKO - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KY3 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KTRE - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WLFI - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WNEM - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WBTV - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KBTX News 3 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - wtvm.com - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WCJB - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - FOX19 | Cincinnati - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KWCH - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WFSB - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - Cleveland 19 News - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WKYT - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KNOE - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - Upper Michigan's Source - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WRDW - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - CBS7 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]