Proof of the Clinton campaign’s plan to link Trump to Russia emerges

A recent revelation has shed light on a plan devised during Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign to associate Donald Trump with Russian collusion narratives.

The declassified documents unveiled a scheme orchestrated by a Clinton adviser, aiming to distract the public from Clinton’s email scandal by promoting false claims of Trump’s ties to Russian interference, New York Post reported.

According to the intelligence files declassified last Thursday, Clinton’s campaign, along with key figures such as Julianne Smith, her foreign policy adviser, initiated this strategy. It reportedly involved collaboration with the Democratic National Committee and George Soros’s Open Society Foundations.

Insight Into the Scheme’s Planning and Intentions

Leonard Benardo of the Open Society Foundations was a crucial communicator for the plan, with email exchanges dating back to late July 2016 detailing the intention behind the narrative. The idea was to create a perception of “Putin’s support for Trump,” thereby linking it to election interference.

These emails suggest that the idea was not merely a short-term political gamble but was anticipated by Smith to serve as a lasting strategy. The plan was expected to provide a positive post-convention surge in favor of Clinton, with further developments expected from the FBI.

Despite these communications, when contacted for comments, Julianne Smith declined to provide any insights. However, her involvement in the campaign’s operations continued to be acknowledged by many, including John Durham, who noted her contribution to connecting Trump with Russia.

FBI and CIA’s Role in the Developments

While the FBI suspected the information to be genuine, they failed to confirm whether Benardo’s emails represented the views of the Open Society Foundations. Concurrently, the CIA determined that the Russians had not fabricated this intelligence.

Investigations led by John Durham brought forth troubling findings, including suggestions that Russian intelligence may have acquired these emails through hacking. Such leaks covered a wide array of think tanks, prominently featuring the Open Society Foundations and the Carnegie Endowment.

The declassification of the intelligence annex relied on a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley. Within this annex lies the implication that the Clinton campaign sought to undermine Trump, in part with assistance from the Steele dossier, a document that was contentious and hotly debated.

Political Ramifications and Ongoing Investigations

Despite the subsequent narrative shift, the focus on Clinton’s email server persisted. Barack Obama reportedly pressured James Comey to expedite the investigation relating to her private server during that period.

Following Trump’s unexpected victory, Obama called for a comprehensive assessment of Russia’s influence over the 2016 election. Andrew McCabe also floated the idea of investigating the election based on documents linked to the Democratic campaign.

Sen. Chuck Grassley criticized the Obama-era FBI for its inadequate investigation into intelligence reports that suggested the Clinton campaign’s potential role in manufacturing the Trump-Russia narrative for political gain.

Public and Institutional Reactions

John Ratcliffe, reflecting on the insights gathered, described these efforts as a planned strategy to tarnish Trump’s presidential run. It suggested a significant misuse of political power to influence public perception.

In response to the declassified intelligence, Open Society Foundations denied involvement in orchestrating FBI investigations against Trump. Their spokesperson labeled such accusations as dangerous and unnecessary, meant to deflect from actual scandals.

Comments from individuals like Pam Bondi expressed a commitment to transparency and accountability, aiming to restore integrity within governmental agencies. Others, including Kash Patel, emphasized the importance of revealing the truth behind the alleged collusion narrative.