Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 12 (January 2018 - June 2018)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 2 (2000s)
Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 12 (January 2018 - June 2018)
“Robert S. Mueller, III, director of the FBI from 2001 to 2013” under public domain by The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In early 2018, tensions continued to rise in Eastern Ukraine, with conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists showing no signs of abating. The situation remained at an impasse, with both sides locked in a simmering conflict. This ongoing conflict raised concerns about Russia's pattern of meddling abroad and its potential impact on the upcoming U.S. elections.
In January, it was revealed that Russian Twitter accounts were pushing the #releasethememo conservative meme, highlighting the influence of Russian interference in American politics. The topic of Russian meddling gained further attention when the Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, announced the indictment of 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian entities for interfering in the 2016 US election.
Amidst these developments, controversies surrounding WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, resurfaced. A congressman claimed to have tried to brief President Trump on WikiLeaks and its alleged ties to Russia after meeting with Assange. However, his efforts were reportedly blocked by White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly.
As investigations into Russian interference deepened, there were allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians. Representative Adam Schiff claimed there was "ample evidence" of such collusion. The investigations led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller also shed light on the activities of organizations like Cambridge Analytica and their ties to the Trump campaign.
In March, the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK further strained relations between Russia and the West. The UK and the US accused Russia of being responsible for the attack, leading to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from both countries.
The situation escalated when the Trump administration expelled 60 Russian diplomats in response to the use of a nerve agent in the UK. The move underscored the growing tensions between the US and Russia and their ongoing disputes.
Throughout this period, Facebook and Google faced criticism for their handling of political ads and the spread of fake news. The issue of foreign influence in elections became a concern, prompting discussions about the need for new rules and regulations.
In April, James Comey, the former FBI Director, spoke out against President Trump in a scathing interview, describing him as "morally unfit." The Democratic Party also filed a lawsuit alleging a Trump-Russia conspiracy.
Reality Winner, a former intelligence contractor, was charged under the Espionage Act for leaking classified information related to Russian election meddling. Her case drew attention and raised questions about the fairness of her prosecution.
As the months passed, Mueller's investigation continued, resulting in additional charges against individuals like Paul Manafort and the indictment of Konstantin Kilimnik. The investigation remained complex and ongoing, leaving many eager to understand its full implications.
In June, Reality Winner, after spending a year in jail, decided to plead guilty. Her case highlighted the controversial nature of her prosecution and the broader issues surrounding whistleblowers and government transparency.
Overall, this period from January to June 2018 was marked by escalating tensions between Russia and the West, investigations into Russian meddling in the US election, controversies surrounding WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, and ongoing debates about the impact of foreign interference on democratic processes. The events of this period laid the foundation for further developments in the coming months.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6 (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 12 (January 2018 - June 2018):
‘Simmering Conflict’ In Eastern Ukraine Remains At An Impasse – NPR January 10, 2018
Federal appeals court denies bail for Reality Winner – USA Today February 1, 2018
Putin, power and poison: Russia’s elite FSB spy club – BBC February 3, 2018
State Department’s answer to Russian meddling is about to be funded – USA Today February 13, 2018
Meet the 13 Russians charged in Mueller probe – USA Today February 16, 2018
McMaster: Russian meddling in U.S. elections is beyond dispute – USA Today February 17, 2018
Trump vs. The World – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver February 19, 2018
Russian spy: Sergei Skripal collapsed alongside daughter – BBC March 6, 2018
North Korea used VX nerve agent to kill leader’s brother, says US – BBC March 7, 2018
Russia’s Greatest Problem in Syria: Its Ally, President Assad – The New York Times March 8, 2018
Russian spy: What are nerve agents and what do they do? – BBC March 12, 2018
Life in Vladimir Putin’s Russia explained in 10 charts – BBC March 12, 2018
US punishes 19 Russians over vote meddling and cyber-attacks – BBC March 15, 2018
Spy poisoning: Putin most likely behind attack – Johnson – BBC March 16, 2018
Russian Nikolai Glushkov’s London death now a murder inquiry – BBC March 16, 2018
Why Vladimir Putin is sure to win the Russian election – The Economist March 16, 2018
Putin’s re-election was decades in the making – Brookings March 19, 2018
Nerve agent: Who controls the world’s most toxic chemicals? – BBC March 20, 2018
Mueller examining Cambridge Analytica, Trump campaign ties – AP News March 22, 2018
Russia ‘arming the Afghan Taliban’, says US – BBC March 23, 2018
Accused Russian Intel Asset Teamed Up With GOP Operative – Daily Beast April 4, 2018
A Suspected Russian Spy, With Curious Ties to Washington – The Atlantic April 6, 2018
Democratic Party Alleges Trump-Russia Conspiracy in New Lawsuit – The New York Times April 20, 2018
Cambridge Analytica shutting down: the firm’s many scandals, explained – Vox May 2, 2018
Rudy Giuliani – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver May 7, 2018
The Russia Investigation Is Complicated. Here’s What It All Means. – The New York Times May 16, 2018
The Astonishing Tale of the Man Mueller Indicted – The Atlantic June 6, 2018
Nato’s painful homecoming – BBC June 7, 2018
Xi Jinping – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver June 18, 2018
Accused leaker Reality Winner expected to plead guilty – USA Today June 22, 2018