Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday night issued a rare public statement denying what he called President Donald Trump’s “bizarre allegations” that he orchestrated the Russiagate investigation.

Earlier that day, Trump accused Obama of being the “ringleader” behind the Trump–Russia collusion narrative and demanded a criminal investigation, citing new claims that Obama-era officials allegedly “manufactured” intelligence to justify the probe.

“Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush claimed in a statement. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.”

“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Obama’s spokesman continued. “Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.”

He added: “These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.”

Rodenbush issued the statement on Obama’s behalf following the release of newly declassified documents by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The documents, which Gabbard described as containing “overwhelming evidence,” allege that after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, then-President Obama and his national security team orchestrated the foundation for the yearslong Trump–Russia collusion investigation.

Gabbard said the documents show that Obama administration officials “manufactured and politicized intelligence” to push the narrative that Russia was interfering in the 2016 election—even though intelligence community assessments at the time reportedly indicated otherwise.