Had ai give me the top 5 critical players in the article and what they did
Here are the top 5 individuals who emerged as most responsible or central in the Declassified HPSCI Report on the Manufactured Russia Hoax (July 2025) and associated oversight findings:
1. John Brennan
As CIA Director during the final drafting of the January 2017 ICA, Brennan pushed insistently to include the high‑confidence assessment that Putin preferred Trump—even after veteran CIA officers objected––and against internal warnings
The report singles him out for over‑riding standard tradecraft practices and promoting intelligence conclusions based on ambiguous, unverified sources Politico.
2. James Comey
As FBI Director, Comey is implicated in perpetuating the collusion narrative and involved in leaks that contributed to public overstatements of Trump–Russia ties
He is named among key intelligence figures criticized for bias and mishandling of the investigation
3. James Clapper
The ODNI/HPSCI report states that President Obama and his national security team—including Clapper—directed the creation and release of an ICA they allegedly knew was false to promote the collusion narrative
4. Tulsi Gabbard (as DNI and report issuer)
While not part of the original intelligence process, as Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard led the declassification and promotion of the 2025 HPSCI report.
She referred evidence to the DOJ and labeled actions by Obama-era officials a “treasonous conspiracy,” giving the report legal and political weight
5. Obama-era National Security Team (collective)
The report identifies a coordinated group—including senior figures in the Obama White House and agencies—who influenced and shaped intelligence assessments, allegedly manufacturing a false narrative regarding Putin’s intentions toward Trump