The Mueller Report Is Out And Its Contents Are A Shocking Indictment Of The Obama Administration's Failure To Address Russia's Election Interference
The Facts:
UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THE RUSSIANS ENGAGED IN A "SWEEPING AND SYSTEMIC" INTERFERENCE CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES
Beginning in 2014, the Russian government engaged in a " sweeping and systemic " interference campaign in the United States through the government sponsored Internet Research Agency and the Russian Army Main Intelligence Directorate, the GRU.
According to the Mueller Report, the Internet Research Agency began to "ramp" up its activities as early as Spring 2014 and by mid-2017 had reached tens of millions of individuals through its social media accounts.
According to the report, the Russian GRU hacked into computer networks of political organizations, employees and volunteers and disseminated stolen documents through proxies and conduits.
IN THE FACE OF RUSSIA'S ELECTION INTERFERENCE, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FAILED TO ACT
In February 2014, an intelligence source informed the Obama Administration that Russia was planning a wide-ranging campaign to attack Western institutions.
Despite two-years of advance knowledge, the Obama Administration issued just a public warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin and only "symbolic" sanctions for Russia's cyber meddling .
Democrats and Obama Administration Officials agreed that the Obama Administration " choked " in its handling of the Russian hacking
UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, RUSSIA ENGAGED IN A "SWEEPING AND SYSTEMIC" INTERFERENCE CAMPAIGN WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
Russia's Interference Campaign Began As Early As 2014 And Operated Through Its Internet Research Agency And The Russian Intelligence Organization, The GRU
Special Counsel Mueller's Report Revealed Russia Engaged In A "Sweeping And Systemic" Interference Campaign Within The United States. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
The Special Counsel Reported Russia Conducted Its Election Interference Through The Internet Research Agency And The Main Intelligence Directorate Of The Russian Army, The Russian GRU. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
The Russian Government Operated And Targeted The United States Through Social Media Accounts Via The Internet Research Agency As Early As 2014. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
The Russian Government Conducted Cyber Hacking And The Dissemination Of Damaging Materials Via The Main Intelligence Directorate Of The Russian Army, The GRU. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
Under The Obama Administration, The Activities Of The Internet Research Agency Flourished And Expanded
The Mueller Report Revealed The IRA Ramped Up Its Operations In The U.S. As Early As Spring 2014. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
In June 2014, Four IRA Employees Received Visas From The Obama State Department And Went On Intelligence Gathering Missions In June 2014. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
By Mid 2017, The IRA's Social Media Accounts Reached Tens Of Millions Of People Of U.S. Persons. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
Under The Obama Administration, The Russian GRU Hacked Into Networks Of Political Organizations, Employees And Volunteers And Disseminated Their Material Throughout The United States
The GRU Is Composed Of Two Military Units Dedicated To Targeting Military, Political, Governmental And Non-Governmental Organizations Outside Of Russia Including US. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
The GRU Hacked Into Computer Networks Of Organizations, Employees And Volunteers And Disseminated Stolen Documents Through Their Online Personas DCLeaks, Guccifer 2.0 And Later Through Wikileaks. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
GRU Also Targeted Individuals And Entities Involved In The Administration Of Elections Including State And Local Entities. ( Department Of Justice , 4/18/19)
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAD NEARLY TWO YEARS ADVANCE NOTICE OF RUSSIA'S INTENTIONS TO INTERFERE IN THE 2016 ELECTION BUT FAILED TO ACT FORCEFULLY TO STOP IT
The Obama Administration Had Nearly Two Years Advance Notice Of Russia's Intent To Interfere In The 2016 Election
In Advance Of The 2016 Election, Russia Sought To Sow Disinformation Through Social Media And Computer Hacking Operations Designed To Gather And Disseminate Information To Influence The Election. ( Department Of Justice , 03/24/19)
In February 2014, A Russian Source First Told His American Contacts The Kremlin Was Planning A Wide-Ranging Campaign To Attack Western Institutions Using Cyberattacks, Information Warfare, Propaganda, And Social Media Campaigns. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 842 of 5006 )
By July 2016, CIA Director Brennan Worked To Arrange An Interagency Sharing Of Information Process With Top Obama Officials Concerning The Russian Election Interference Plans. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 2768 of 5006)
By The Time The Interagency Process Began, Obama Administration Officials Had No Question That Russian State-Sponsored Hackings Were Behind The Cyberattacks And Release Of Stolen Democratic Materials "As the interagency process began, there was no question regarding the big picture being drawn up by the analysts and experts assembled by Brennan: Russian state-sponsored hackers were behind the cyberattacks and the release of swiped Democratic material by WikiLeaks, Guccifer 2.0 (an internet persona suspected of being a Russian front), and a website called DCLeaks.com" ( Yahoo , Accessed 03/09/18)
Despite Their Advance Knowledge, The Obama Administration Repeatedly Refused To Confront Russia Strongly And Instead Issued A Failed Warning To Russian President Vladimir Putin And Placed "Largely Symbolic" Sanctions Against Russia
In The Fall Of 2014, Russian Hackers Gained Access To The White House. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 957 of 5006 )
The Obama Administration Refused To Confront Moscow Over The Hacks Due To Its Desire To Obtain Cooperation On Terrorism, Syria, And The Iran Nuclear Deal. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 957 of 5006)
In 2016, Following Increased Russian Activity, Michael Daniel, The Obama White House's Cybersecurity Expert, And Celeste Wallander, Obama's National Security Council Russia Expert, Began Drafting Options For An Aggressive Response To Russia's Cyber Interference. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 2937 of 5006)
But Obama National Security Adviser Susan Rice Told Daniel And Wallander "To Knock It Off." (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 2937 of 5006 )
Instead, The White House Put All Aggressive Responses On Hold And Obama And His Aides Came Up With A Different Plan. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 2937 of 5006 )
In August 2016, The White House Decided Obama Would Confront Putin Directly At The G20 Meeting In China. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 2937 of 5006 )
- Following His Warning To Putin In China, Obama Claimed There Was No Further Tampering Of The Election Process Except For The Leaks Through Wikileaks "And so in early September, when I saw President Putin in China, I felt that the most effective way to ensure that, that didn't happen was to talk to him directly. And tell him to cut it out, and there were going to be some serious consequences if he didn't. And in fact, we did not see further tampering of the election process but the leaks through wikileaks had already occurred." (Washington, D.C., 12/16/16)
- The Washington Post Reported That The Russian Propaganda Organization, The Internet Research Agency, Continued Its Operations Up To And After The 2016 Election . "Nov. 3, 2016. A post at the Instagram account "Blacktivist" promotes Jill Stein as an alternative. Nov. 8, 2016. Trump is elected president. The aftermath. Nov. 12, 2016. The Agency continues its efforts to divide the country, hosting dueling protests in New York. One is meant to "show your support for President-Elect Donald Trump," and another called "Trump is NOT my President." Nov. 19, 2016. The Agency organizes a rally in Charlotte called "Charlotte Against Trump." Jan. 20, 2017. Trump is inaugurated." ( The Washington Post , 02/16/18)
In Late December 2016, Obama Approved A "Largely Symbolic" And "Modest Package" Of Punishment For Russia's Interference. "But in the end, in late December, Obama approved a modest package combining measures that had been drawn up to punish Russia for other issues - expulsions of 35 diplomats and the closure of two Russian compounds - with economic sanctions so narrowly targeted that even those who helped design them describe their impact as largely symbolic." ( The Washington Post , 06/23/17)
- The Washington Post : Obama's Economic Sanctions Were "So Narrowly Targeted That Even Those Who Helped Design Them Describe Their Impact As Largely Symbolic." "But in the end, in late December, Obama approved a modest package combining measures that had been drawn up to punish Russia for other issues - expulsions of 35 diplomats and the closure of two Russian compounds - with economic sanctions so narrowly targeted that even those who helped design them describe their impact as largely symbolic." ( The Washington Post , 06/23/17)
From The Very Beginning, The Obama Administration Didn't Take Russia's Cyber Activity Seriously
Despite Writing Repeated Memos, The Intelligence Community's Warnings About Russia's Information Warfare Plans Received Little Attention In The U.S. And Europe. (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 842 of 5006)
Obama's Cybersecurity Staff Were "Convinced That The President And His Top Aides Didn't Get The Stakes.". (Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story Of Putin's War On America And The Election Of Donald Trump," 2018, 2937 of 5006 )
For Context: Obama Was Vacationing In Martha's Vineyard While His Staffers Prepared A List Of Options For Responding To Russia's Hacking. "Obama would be vacationing in Martha's Vineyard until Aug. 21, and the deputies took his return as an informal deadline for preparing a list of options - sanctions, diplomatic responses, and cyber-counterattacks - that could be put in front of the principals and the president." ( Yahoo , Accessed 03/09/18)
Democrats And Obama Administration Officials Agree That The Obama Administration "Choked" In Its Handling Of The Russian Hacking
Following The Election, Ranking Member Of The House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) Said That The "Obama Administration Should Have Done A Lot More" Concerning Russia's Intervention In U.S. Elections. "Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, also said Donald Trump's complaints about White House inaction, tweeted after the Washington Post reported that Barack Obama knew about Russian interference as far back as August 2016, were like 'knowingly receiving stolen property [and] blaming police for not stopping the theft.' 'I think the Obama administration should have done a lot more when it became clear that not only was Russia intervening but it was being directed at the highest levels of the Kremlin,' Schiff said." ( The Guardian , 06/25/17)
A Former Senior Obama Official Said He Felt The Administration Had "Choked" In Their Handling Of The Russian Hacking And That It Was His "Hardest Thing About My Entire Time In Government To Defend." "A former senior official involved in White House deliberations on Russia, who was not named by the Post, is quoted as saying: "It is the hardest thing about my entire time in government to defend. I feel like we sort of choked." ( The Guardian , 06/23/17)
Former U.S. Ambassador To Russia, Michael McFaul Stated "The Punishment Did Not Fit The Crime ." "The punishment did not fit the crime," the former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, said of the US sanctions." ( The Guardian , 06/23/17)
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