DISINFO: Russiagate is a Deep State-backed conspiracy theory
SUMMARY
The so-called “Russian meddling” in the 2016 US presidential election, better known as Russiagate, is a debunked Deep State-backed conspiracy theory which was pushed by the mainstream media in an attempt to delegitimise the election.
RESPONSE
The claim advances a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative denying Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and alleging that US/Western democratic procedures are overridden by a secret anti-Trump bureaucracy. The fact of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential poll was initially established by the US intelligence community in January 2017 and further confirmed upon the publication of the Special Counsel Investigation report in March 2019. In the course of the two-year probe, the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller "issued more than 2,800 subpoeanas; [...] executed nearly 500 search-and-seizure warrants; [...] obtained more than 230 orders for communications records; [...] and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses, including almost 80 before a grand jury" (Mueller report, p. 13), and concluded that Moscow had "interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion" (p. 1). See here for a summary of the report's findings. The claim that the meddling allegations were used to excuse Hillary Clinton's loss defies both time and logic. Efforts by Moscow to hurt the Clinton campaign were reported already in June 2016, some five months before her electoral defeat. The initial FBI probe into Russian interference operations was launched in late July 2016. It is therefore unclear how these revelations were meant to excuse Clinton's performance before election day, seeing as she commanded a decisive polling lead over Trump right up until 8 November.