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Imagine yourself in the shoes of Hillary Clinton, one of the most controversial figures in modern American politics. Her decisions have led to what some describe as the biggest political scandal of our time, known as Russiagate. As this saga unfolded over the last decade, Clinton witnessed the nation delve into a convoluted investigation seeking evidence of Russian collusion involving Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, evidence she knew to be fictitious.
The implications of her actions raise several critical questions. What was going through her mind as an expensive special counsel investigation launched, funded by taxpayer dollars, to pursue leads that originated from her campaign’s fabrications? Did she ever express regret for her role in this deception? Was there a moment when she thought about revealing the truth and admitting her mistakes?
Unfortunately, there was no such moment for Clinton. She released her book titled “What Happened?” in which she deflected blame onto others, including Vladimir Putin, Senator Bernie Sanders, and former CIA Director James Comey, for her stunning electoral loss to Trump, an individual she openly mocked and criticized throughout her campaign. Clinton continues to perpetuate the narrative that, without Putin’s interference, she would have undoubtedly become the first female president of the United States.
The public’s skepticism of Clinton was justified. Polls conducted by CNN around the time of the 2016 Democratic National Convention revealed voters’ distrust. According to reports, a staggering 68 percent of respondents deemed her untrustworthy, a figure that marked her worst ratings in history. In stark contrast, only 30 percent viewed her as honest, while Trump garnered a higher trust rating, with 43 percent viewing him as credible.
As new information about Russiagate emerges, it becomes increasingly clear why public sentiment leaned away from Clinton. In light of polling data reflecting her approval ratings hovering at a mere 31 percent in July 2016, one can understand why she was not guaranteed victory in the upcoming election. Under President Barack Obama, the political landscape shifted, and the proportion of Americans identifying as Democrats declined from 36 percent in 2008 to just 31 percent by 2016.
It appears that Clinton’s overconfidence masked a sense of urgency to eliminate Trump as a competitor. This led her to endorse two significant tactics that ultimately catalyzed the baseless undermining of Trump’s presidency.
The first of these tactics involved a scheme approved by Clinton in October 2016, as testified by her campaign manager, Robby Mook. This plan aimed to inform a journalist from Slate magazine about a supposed backchannel communication between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank in Moscow. This unverified connection served as the initial attempt to portray Trump as a pawn of the Kremlin. Despite the absence of any real evidence, Clinton’s supporters, bolstered by mainstream media, propagated this untruth, leading to public suspicion.
Shortly after the Slate story broke, Clinton tweeted that “computer scientists had apparently uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian bank.” This was followed by a press release asserting that this hidden communication might unlock the purported mystery of Trump’s Russian ties. Ultimately, the FBI found no evidence to support the existence of such a communication channel.
Additionally, Jake Sullivan, who played a critical role in promoting the Trump-Alfa Bank narrative, later secured his position as National Security Adviser under President Joe Biden. This signal of political reward only adds to the controversy surrounding the narrative.
However, the most damaging aspect of the Russia collusion narrative stems from the salacious allegations presented in the Steele dossier, which the Clinton campaign funded. These claims not only triggered a prolonged investigation into supposed Russian interference but also led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The Federal Election Commission later confirmed that the campaign and the Democratic National Committee faced repercussions for authorizing deceitful opposition research.
As revelations continue to surface, serious accusations surface against Clinton and other prominent figures, including Obama, Comey, and John Brennan. These individuals reportedly manipulated intelligence and facts to further mislead the public about Trump’s alleged connections to Russia.
In a surprising turn of events, the New York Times has stepped in to defend Clinton, perhaps to maintain the integrity of their 2018 Pulitzer Prize won for their reporting on the initial story. Their characterization of disclosures regarding Clinton’s campaign strategy as an attempt by the Trump team to distract from unrelated scandals raises eyebrows, especially considering their claim that the emails referenced are likely fabrications from foreign operatives.
Whether the true nature of the plot to undermine Trump’s presidency will be fully uncovered remains uncertain. Many speculate that significant players, including Clinton, may evade accountability for their actions.
Watching the ongoing fallout from the Trump Administration likely brings Clinton a unique perspective on her alleged misdeeds. It raises questions about her own conscience. Her betrayal of public trust illustrates a troubling aspect of her character, leaving her amid a sense of bitterness, as many view her as a corrupt figure whose quest for power led her down a perilous path.
Her actions not only targeted President Trump but also disrespected the 61 million Americans who chose to back him in the 2016 election. Clinton’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of political deception and immeasurable fallout on democracy.
