Fredonia Project Sitrep 12 Us Domestic
DATE-TIME GROUP:221800ZJULY25
FROM: EMBASSY OF FREDONIA, WASHINGTON, D.C.
TO: MFA NAGADOCHES
CLASSIFICATION: CONEOFSILENCE//FREDONIAN EYES ONLY
SUBJECT: SITREP 12: “ THE FREDONIA PROJECT” OBSERVATIONAL DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA IN CRISIS JULY 22 2025
SUMMARY:
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
On July 22, 2025, President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against political opponents, explicitly accusing former President Barack Obama, former FBI Director James Comey, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper of “treason” and other crimes. These statements, made amidst the fallout from the Epstein files controversy, immediately drew sharp reactions from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
I. President Trump’s Accusations and Statements (July 22, 2025)
Direct Accusations of Treason: President Trump publicly called for the arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment of former President Barack Obama, repeatedly stating, “The leader of the gang was President Obama, Barack Hussein Obama. He’s guilty. This was treason. This was every word you can think of.”(Acting Ambassador Comment: It is not clear whether Trump is using this truly astonishing rhetoric to divert the attention of his base from the “Epstein Affair” or, after a long slide, has lost his grasp on truth and reality, or whether this represents a considered and considerable authoritarian effort to strengthen his grip on the Department of Justice and judicial levers of power.
We must consider and prepare for all three possibilities
An audacious announcement, almost always with no basis in truth, is Trump’s go-to response to opposition. It is fodder for his base–and for a free press that is anxious to remain relevant and solvent. The press and commentators will be in the familiar and uncomfortable position of whether or not to answer his allegations–and risk giving them the credence that plays into Trump’s tiny hands. Recent news indicating both physical and mental decline cannot be ignored as a factor playing into this “strategy.” And yet to all appearances, it is being ignored by his staff, his cabinet and members of congress – particularly now that it appears they will suffer not simply outrageous public humiliation or dismissal or electoral consequences, but also prosecutorial retaliation.
Undoubtedly most disturbing is the very likely possibility that this is a serious, consequential and “in your face” move on behalf of the Trump administration to strengthen his hold on the judiciary to subvert the rule of law. This is right out of the authoritarian playbook that we have seen in so many other countries: To establish one’s enduring power, using a pliant law enforcement, prosecutors and judiciary to pursue trumped up —excuse the pun –charges against one’s political “enemies” And, let us be clear: there is no repeat no equivalence between Trump’s effort and the the government’s core findings in its 2017 assessment that Russia launched an influence and hacking campaign, notwithstanding Trump’s incessant “witchhunt” bleats.)
Expanding the Target List: Trump extended his accusations to include former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, accusing them of acting criminally “at the highest level.” (Acting Ambassador Comment: This Embassy is particularly concerned that this administration’s authoritarian hold is succeeding with the “body politic” which is showing signs of becoming accustomed to Trump’s assertions, his behavior, and his unconstitutional orders, all of which are wreaking havoc on the stability of this once-constitutional democracy. Whether this is due to changing ideology, or, more likely, stress, exhaustion or despair, is not clear as of this writing.)
Citing Gabbard’s Report: Trump explicitly cited a new report from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as justification for his claims. Gabbard’s report, according to the administration, details an “Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert Trump’s 2016 Victory and Presidency” and alleges “treasonous conspiracy” and “manufactured intelligence.” (Acting Ambassador Comment: Tulsi Gabbard has no experience whatsoever in the intelligence world, although she does have two decades of military service. Regardless, she is hardly a reliable reporter given her affinity for Vladimir Putin, and Basher el-Assad. Her report, which has been declassified, seems to Embassy Fredonia intelligence and security officers to be based on very slight evidence. As CNN reports: “the allegations conflate and misrepresent what the intelligence community actually concluded, according to a review of a GOP-led Senate investigation from 2020 and interviews with congressional sources familiar with the probe. The newly unsealed documents do nothing to undercut the government’s core findings in its 2017 assessment that Russia launched an influence and hacking campaign and sought to help Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton, the sources said.”
Visual Reinforcement: Trump reportedly reposted an AI-generated video depicting Obama being handcuffed in the Oval Office, accompanied by the song “YMCA,” further illustrating his intent. (Acting Ambassador Comment: After Trump’s first comments about arresting Obama, Obama posted photographs of Trump being arrested for one of his 34 plus counts of financial fraud.)
Context of Deflection: Trump’s accusations came as he faced mounting pressure and backlash from his own base over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting, to state the obvious, a strategic attempt to deflect attention from that controversy.
II. Reactions from Republican Lawmakers
Cautious Distancing/Silence from Leadership: While some hardline Trump allies may have echoed the President’s sentiments, there was notable caution from mainstream Republican leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had indicated a desire for “transparency” on the Epstein files, did not endorse the treason accusations, highlighting the difficult position in which Trump’s rhetoric again places many Republicans. (Acting Ambassador Comments: a position to which those same Republicans should be accustomed to by now.)
Internal Fissures: The Epstein controversy had already exposed fissures within the MAGA movement, and some vocal Trump supporters have expressed frustration with the administration. These new accusations of treason, while potentially energizing a segment of the base, also risk alienating some who may find such rhetoric extreme or unsubstantiated.
III. Reactions from Democratic Lawmakers
Strong Condemnation: Democratic lawmakers swiftly and unequivocally condemned Trump’s accusations as baseless, dangerous, and an unprecedented attack on democratic norms.
Defense of Former Officials: Representatives for former President Obama issued a rare public response, calling the claims “outrageous,” “ridiculous,” and a “weak attempt at distraction.” Democrats emphasized the integrity of the former officials and the numerous investigations that have confirmed Russian interference without finding evidence of wrongdoing by the Obama administration.
Accusations of Authoritarianism and Weaponization: Democrats framed Trump’s statements as a clear attempt to politicize the justice system and weaponize government power against political opponents, drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes. They highlighted the threat this poses to the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power.
Calls for Accountability: Some Democrats reiterated calls for accountability for Trump’s actions and rhetoric, emphasizing the need to uphold constitutional principles and protect democratic institutions from such attacks.
IV. Legal Context of Treason and Historical Precedent
Narrow Constitutional Definition: The U.S. Constitution defines treason very narrowly as “levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.” This definition was intentionally made stringent by the Founders to prevent its abuse by political rivals. (Acting Ambassador Comment: not really working, is it?)
High Bar for Proof: Conviction for treason requires the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act or a confession in open court, a significantly higher bar than for most other crimes.
No Precedent for Presidential Treason: No U.S. president, sitting or former, has ever been charged with or convicted of treason. Legal experts consistently dismiss such claims against former presidents for official acts as baseless, citing the Supreme Court’s stance on presidential immunity. (Acting Ambassador Comment: In June 2024, the US Supreme Court, including three Trump appointees ruled that presidential immunity from criminal prosecution presumptively extends to all of a President’s “official acts…” For more information see: Politicization of the Term: While the legal definition is clear, the term “treason” has been increasingly used as a rhetorical weapon in U.S. politics, not surprisingly, often by President Trump, to delegitimize opponents and inflame his base. His current calls for arrests, however, are a dangerous escalation from rhetoric to a demand for state action.)
(Acting Ambassador General Comments: Imagine that you are the President of the United States. That you may not be as rich as you say you are or as you want to be, but you are very rich. Imagine that you have your entire political party apparatus eating out of your tiny hands, and you have a staff who are also rich and powerful and want to make sure that most of the rest of the United States’ population lives under an authoritarian hand. Imagine that there is something in a file that you are desperate to avoid. Now imagine that your choice of action, the best action you can imagine, is to threaten a former president with an indictment for treason. That is where the United States of America is right now. Sleep well.)
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 300 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.