US Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered federal prosecutors to launch an investigation into allegations that members of former President Barack Obama's administration fabricated intelligence regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

A source familiar with the matter told CNN that the investigation could involve grand jury subpoenas and may potentially lead to criminal charges, depending on the findings.

The move follows a referral by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who in July declassified documents that she claims challenge the Obama administration's conclusions about Russian interference, which allegedly favored Donald Trump over his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Gabbard has formally called on the Justice Department to open a conspiracy investigation into former President Obama and several senior officials based on the contents of those documents.

In a statement, Bondi confirmed that her department is reviewing the materials submitted by Gabbard and is considering "possible legal steps." The Justice Department has declined to comment officially on the ongoing review.

However, sources told CNN that the documents Gabbard submitted do not contradict the conclusions of the 2017 U.S. intelligence community report, which found that Russia conducted a coordinated campaign to influence the 2016 election -- with the primary aim of undermining confidence in the US democratic process, rather than explicitly backing a single candidate.