Profile in Focus | Dr. Jill Stein Part 12 (November 2017 - December 2017)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile in Focus | Dr. Jill Stein Part 12 (November 2017 - December 2017)
“Jill Stein speaking at the Occupy Wall Street S17 demonstration on Bowling Green, Lower Manhattan, New York” by Paul Stein under CC BY-SA 2.0.
In November 2017, Jill Stein, the former Green Party presidential candidate, found herself under increasing scrutiny in the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. It was revealed that Russians had exploited Facebook's data-mining capabilities to target and influence American users.
Facebook expanded the scope of Russian influence on its platform, prompting CEO Mark Zuckerberg to emphasize his seriousness about addressing the issue, even if it impacted the company's profits. Fake Facebook ads from Russian sources were exposed, touching on divisive topics such as Clinton, guns, race, and Christianity. The role of race divisions in Russian influence on Facebook was highlighted, with discussions about how more diverse staffing might have helped mitigate the issue.
Reports delved into the mechanics of Russian hacking, offering insight into how Russians hacked the Democrats' emails. The Atlantic published an article revealing secret correspondence between Donald Trump Jr. and WikiLeaks, raising further questions about potential links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The investigation also explored Stein's 2015 dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which she claimed was a non-event.
The topic of Russian bots and their appearance on social media timelines was explored, highlighting the covert methods used by these entities to spread misinformation.
In December 2017, the Senate's Russia investigation expanded its scope to include Stein's 2016 campaign. News outlets reported that Stein was cooperating with the investigation and would hand over Russia-related communications. The Senate Intelligence Committee looked into whether Stein's campaign had possible collusion with Russia during the election. Stein vowed to cooperate and provide Russia-related communications to the committee.
The media coverage of Stein's involvement in the Russia inquiry was widespread, with headlines indicating that her campaign was under investigation for possible collusion with Russians. While some sources portrayed the investigation as targeting Stein directly, others framed it within the broader context of the Russia investigation, which had already engulfed figures like Michael Flynn and Donald Trump Jr.
While some criticized the investigation as part of Washington's "Russia circus," others saw it as an essential step in understanding the extent of Russian interference in the democratic process. Stein maintained that her interactions with Russia were unremarkable and not indicative of any collusion.
As the Russia investigation continued, questions arose about the release of "Deep State Files" by WikiLeaks. Rumors circulated about the authenticity of the documents, and fact-checking organizations like Snopes sought to verify their legitimacy.
Reports surfaced about a Moscow dinner in 2015 where Jill Stein, along with Michael Flynn, sat with Vladimir Putin. Stein downplayed the significance of the event, referring to it as a "non-event."
As the Russia investigations continued to unfold, with battle lines drawn over the roles of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the Justice Department, and the FBI, questions also arose about WikiLeaks' involvement. Claims of WikiLeaks releasing "Deep State Files" were scrutinized.
Amidst the intensifying Russia investigation, Stein faced criticism from various quarters, with some media outlets portraying her unfavorably. As a prominent figure in the Green Party, Stein was no stranger to controversy, and her actions and associations during the 2016 election were a subject of national debate.
While Stein's involvement in the Russia investigation garnered significant attention, it was just one aspect of her political career. Her advocacy for environmental issues, her stance on nuclear energy, and her views on medical science, vaccines, and autism remained important parts of her platform. The controversy surrounding her interactions with Russia, however, cast a shadow over her political endeavors and raised questions about the potential impact of foreign influence on American politics. As the nation looked forward, the Russia investigation continued to unfold, revealing a complex web of connections and raising concerns about the integrity of the democratic process.