Phase Three of Russia’s Involvement in the 2016 Election
September 12, 2017In June, I compared the parallels between Russia’s potential involvement in the 2016 Election and in Ukraine.
The phases I outlined were:
- Deny any involvement.
- Claim those involved are doing so of their own accord.
- Admit the result after it’s essentially gone away.
Then I was arguing we were already past the second phase. I wrote about how one of the strengths of any potential Russian involvement was that there was no clear organization or orchestration of it all. That means it’s both hard to trace to the Russian government and that more than a few people would have knowledge of its existence, so someone besides Putin himself could start letting the information or admission start to slip out.
Now it seems we’re starting into phase three. The admission seems to be starting.
#Russia‘s state TV mocks American intelligence services:
MP Vyacheslav Nikonov says U.S. spies slept while Russia elected a U.S. President. pic.twitter.com/BmMNBTr41R
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) September 11, 2017
Now if only Trump wasn’t delegating Maginsky Act Authority to Rex Tillerson and Steven Mnuchin. Rex Tillerson has well-known and documented ties to Russia, and as the CEO of Exxon-Mobile, that’s not that surprising. Let’s just hope Mnuchin keeps his word on Russian sanctions.
If Putin has some coy statement in a press conference, then we’ll fully be in phase three. It doesn’t make me hopeful for 2018 mid-term elections and what shenanigans could happen before then.
Here’s the original video of the show in question.
Oh, and if you think that YouTube comments in English are terrible, don’t start translating the Russian ones.
