So you know better based on your gut feeling?
1. Evidence for Russia Meddling in US Elections
The evidence points to a "sweeping and systematic" campaign ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the goal of undermining public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrating Hillary Clinton, and helping Donald Trump. This campaign used two primary methods: Cyber Operations (Hacking) and Disinformation/Influence Campaigns.
A. Cyber Operations (Hacking)
* Targeting Democratic Organizations: Operatives from the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) successfully hacked into the computer systems of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
* Targeting Individuals: The GRU also hacked into the email accounts of top Clinton campaign officials, including Chairman John Podesta.
* Leak and Release: The stolen files and emails were released publicly through various channels, including WikiLeaks, DCLeaks, and the GRU-operated persona "Guccifer 2.0," often timed to maximize political damage during the election campaign.
* Targeting Election Infrastructure: The Department of Homeland Security stated that Russian government hackers targeted the election systems of at least 21 U.S. states. While many attempts were scanning or probing, some state systems were successfully penetrated.
B. Disinformation and Influence Campaigns
* Internet Research Agency (IRA): A Russian troll farm based in St. Petersburg, the IRA, conducted extensive disinformation and social media operations.
* They used fabricated accounts, personas, and advertisements across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, posing as Americans.
* The content was designed to sow social discord, amplify divisive social and political issues, and ultimately encourage Americans to oppose Hillary Clinton or support Donald Trump.
* They organized political rallies and events inside the U.S., which real Americans unknowingly attended.
* Russian State Media: Russian government-controlled media outlets, such as RT and Sputnik, were used to promote fabricated articles and anti-Clinton narratives that were then amplified by the social media campaign.
2. Republicans Who Have Leaned Towards This Assessment
While President Donald Trump and some of his close allies publicly rejected the assessment of Russian interference, many prominent Republicans and official Republican-led bodies have acknowledged and affirmed the findings of Russian meddling.
* Senate Intelligence Committee (The Burr-Warner Report): This was a five-volume, bipartisan investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, led by Republican Chairman Richard Burr and Democratic Vice Chairman Mark Warner.
* Conclusion: Their final, nearly 1,000-page report concluded that Russia launched an "aggressive effort" to interfere in the election on Trump's behalf and that the Intelligence Community Assessment alleging Russian interference was "coherent and well-constructed." This report essentially validated the findings of the Mueller and IC reports.
* Mitch McConnell: As previously mentioned, McConnell has publicly condemned Russian actions, stating, "The Russians are not our friends," and supported the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation.
* Former House Speaker Paul Ryan: In December 2016, Ryan issued a joint statement with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi supporting a full investigation into the matter and recognizing that Russia was attempting to "interfere with our elections."
* Senator Marco Rubio: Targeted by the IRA's disinformation operations himself, Rubio has repeatedly and unequivocally stated that Russia interfered in the election and that its efforts were aimed at undermining U.S. democracy.
* Former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats: While serving under President Trump, Coats consistently warned that Russian and other foreign interference efforts were ongoing and posed a threat to U.S. democracy.
* Senator Mitt Romney: He has been an outspoken critic of both Russian aggression and what he sees as a failure by some within his party to fully accept the intelligence findings on election interference.
The distinction among Republicans is often not over whether Russia interfered (which most senior figures and official bodies have affirmed) but over how the Trump campaign responded to or was connected to that interference. |
