Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 14 (January 2019 - July 2019)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 2 (2000s)
Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 14 (January 2019 - July 2019)
“Shows Howie Hawkins campaigning in front of the Charging Bull sculpture in Manhattan, New York. Hawkins was running for Governor at the time” by Don Emmert under CC BY-SA 4.0.
From January to July 2019, the events surrounding WikiLeaks and Julian Assange continued to unfold, generating significant media attention and public interest. In January, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced that it had been targeted again by Russian hackers after the 2018 elections, reigniting concerns about foreign interference.
In late January, former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone was indicted on charges of obstruction, false statements, and witness tampering as part of the Mueller investigation. Stone's connection to WikiLeaks and his alleged involvement in the release of stolen DNC emails drew attention to the role of Assange and his organization.
A story emerged in January, revealing a plot against billionaire philanthropist George Soros. This raised questions about the influence and manipulation tactics employed by political actors.
As the year progressed, the legal battles involving Chelsea Manning, the former intelligence analyst who leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks, intensified. In February, Manning disclosed a subpoena for testimony and vowed to fight it. However, she was ultimately jailed for refusing to testify in the WikiLeaks case.
In March, Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted his full report on the Russia investigation to the attorney general. The report highlighted various instances of possible obstruction of justice by President Trump but did not charge any members of his campaign with conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.
Julian Assange and WikiLeaks remained in the spotlight, attracting both support and criticism. Assange's role in publishing classified documents and his connection to the Trump campaign's favorable comments about WikiLeaks raised questions about his motives and impact on US politics.
The Green Party voiced its support for Assange's release, while others debated the significance of his actions and their consequences.
In May, Chelsea Manning was released from jail, although the possibility of her return remained. The release reignited discussions about whistleblowing and the implications of leaking classified information.
The Green New Deal, a policy proposal aimed at addressing climate change, gained attention in May, bringing environmental issues to the forefront of political discourse.
The US government's escalation of online attacks on Russia's power grid in June highlighted ongoing tensions between the two countries in the cyber realm.
The Skripal poisoning case, involving the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK, continued to unfold. A third Russian suspect was identified, further linking the attack to Russian command.
In July, Mueller's high-stakes congressional hearings took place, generating intense scrutiny and mixed reactions. The hearings did not yield the desired outcomes for Democrats, leaving many disappointed.
Throughout this period, the events surrounding WikiLeaks and Julian Assange remained complex and highly debated, with ongoing legal battles, political implications, and questions about foreign interference. The public continued to grapple with issues of transparency, cybersecurity, and the role of whistleblowers in the modern era.
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 14 (January 2019 - July 2019):
The Unbelievable Story Of The Plot Against George Soros – Buzzfeed News January 29, 2019
Chelsea Manning Says She May Be Jailed for Contempt of Court – The New York Times March 7, 2019
Annexation of Crimea: A masterclass in political manipulation | Opinion – Al Jazeera March 16, 2019
Jill Stein Cooperated With Congressional Russia Investigators – Daily Beast March 28, 2019
Trump in 2016: “I love WikiLeaks!” Trump now: “I know nothing about WikiLeaks.” – Vox April 11, 2019
Green Party Calls for Release of Julian Assange – Green Party USA April 16, 2019
Key takeaways from Robert Mueller’s Russia report – AP News April 18, 2019
The 10 instances of possible obstruction in Mueller report – AP News April 18, 2019
Mueller reveals Trump’s attempts to choke off Russia probe – AP News April 18, 2019
TV star Zelenskiy officially named new Ukrainian president – AP News April 30, 2019
Chelsea Manning Is Released From Jail, but She May Return Soon – The New York Times May 9, 2019
Green New Deal – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver May 13, 2019
U.S. Escalates Online Attacks on Russia’s Power Grid – The New York Times June 15, 2019
THE RUSSIAGATE OBSESSION IS MASS DISTRACTION – HowieHawkins.US June 16, 2019
Skripal poisoning: Third Russian suspect ‘commanded attack’ – BBC June 28, 2019