Newly declassified intelligence documents released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reveal that Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) allegedly gathered extensive information about Hillary Clinton’s physical and mental health during the 2016 presidential campaign—but ultimately chose not to release it before the election.
According to the declassified House Intelligence Committee report, Russian President Vladimir Putin opted to withhold the potentially damaging material because he believed Clinton would win the election and did not want to jeopardize future diplomatic relations.
Allegations of Health Issues and Sedative Use
The report, based on interviews with U.S. intelligence officers, FBI personnel, and original source material from the Obama administration’s 2017 intelligence review, claims that Russian operatives intercepted Democratic National Committee (DNC) communications discussing Clinton’s health problems.
The intercepted information reportedly revealed that Clinton was experiencing “intensified psycho-emotional problems,” including frequent mood swings described as “uncontrolled fits of anger, aggression, and cheerfulness.” In response, Clinton was allegedly prescribed heavy tranquilizers and placed on a strict medical regimen.
“Clinton was placed on a daily regimen of ‘heavy tranquilizers,’ and while afraid of losing, she remained obsessed with a thirst for power,” the report stated.
By September 2016, internal Democratic Party emails cited in the report suggested that President Barack Obama and top Democratic leaders were privately concerned about Clinton’s condition, describing it as “extraordinarily alarming.” They reportedly feared her health would negatively impact her chances against then-candidate Donald Trump.
Additional medical conditions attributed to Clinton in the report include Type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — all of which were allegedly known but closely guarded by her campaign staff under strict secrecy.
Putin Allegedly Held Back the Intel
Despite possessing this information, the SVR reportedly recommended against releasing it publicly. Russian officials allegedly believed Clinton’s victory was a near certainty, and feared backlash or retaliation under a Clinton presidency if they were seen as interfering.
“The SVR determined that exposing Clinton’s mental and physical health issues could provoke severe diplomatic consequences if she won,” the report notes.
Clinton Campaign Accused of Russia Smear Strategy
The report also references emails allegedly obtained by the SVR that detail a Clinton-approved plan to link Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin and Russian hacking operations. The objective, according to the documents, was to distract the American public from the controversy surrounding Clinton’s private email server.
“The Clinton campaign discussed a strategy to use the Russia-Trump connection as a diversionary tactic,” the document states. “This plan was allegedly approved by Secretary Clinton herself.”
This claim aligns with earlier findings from Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation, which concluded that U.S. intelligence had evidence of politically motivated efforts within the Clinton campaign to shape the media narrative surrounding Russian election interference.
Gabbard and GOP Lawmakers React
Tulsi Gabbard, who previously served as a Democratic Congresswoman before becoming Director of National Intelligence under the Trump administration, shared remarks on the findings during a press briefing this week.
“These declassified documents point to an orchestrated narrative by the previous administration to undermine a duly elected president,” Gabbard said, referring to former President Barack Obama’s administration.
She further accused the Obama-era intelligence community of aiding a “soft coup” by bolstering the theory that Trump had colluded with Russia — a theory Gabbard said was based on flawed or politically motivated intelligence.
Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) supported Gabbard’s claims and emphasized the gravity of the allegations.
“The American people deserve transparency. If this report is accurate, it shows that key Democratic leaders knew of Clinton’s declining health and still chose to deceive voters while fueling a false Russia-Trump narrative,” Marshall said.
No Official Response from Clinton or Obama
As of this writing, neither Hillary Clinton nor representatives from the Obama administration have issued formal responses to the allegations in the report.
The revelations come at a time when election integrity, misinformation, and national security remain central to the 2026 political landscape. Congressional Republicans have signaled they may launch hearings into the newly declassified material in the coming weeks.