WASHINGTON - US Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into allegations that officials from former President Barack Obama's administration fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters Monday.

The probe follows a referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who last month declassified documents she claims reveal a "treasonous conspiracy" to falsely link then-candidate Donald Trump to Moscow. Gabbard has threatened to seek prosecutions of Obama-era officials.

A Justice Department "strike force" was recently formed to assess Gabbard's allegations about what she described as the intelligence community's "weaponization."

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Fox News first reported that Bondi directed an unnamed federal prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings, and the prosecutor is expected to present department evidence to a grand jury, which could consider indictments. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.

Trump, who defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016, has accused Obama of treason, alleging - without evidence - that the Democrat led a coordinated effort to sabotage his campaign.

A 2017 intelligence assessment concluded Russia sought to influence the 2016 election in Trump's favor but found no evidence that votes were changed.

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Obama's spokesperson dismissed the claims as "bizarre" and "ridiculous."