Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 9 (January 2017 - May 2017)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 2 (2000s)
Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 9 (January 2017 - May 2017)
“Russian President Vladimir Putin at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of RTTV broadcasting – Russia Today” from The Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation under CC BY 4.0.
In January 2017, as Donald Trump prepared to take office as the 45th President of the United States, the topic of Russian hacking and its alleged interference in the U.S. election dominated the news. Trump claimed that intelligence officials delayed briefing him on the matter and cited Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, who cast doubt on Russia's involvement. However, bipartisan voices strongly affirmed the findings on Russian hacking, with intelligence officials stating their certainty that Russia had indeed tried to influence the election.
A report by U.S. intelligence identified Russians who were believed to have given Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails to WikiLeaks. The connections between WikiLeaks and Russia were investigated, revealing that the WikiLeaks-Russia connection existed before the 2016 election. The findings pointed to a complex cyberattack scheme led by Russian President Vladimir Putin to aid Trump.
Amidst the discussions on hacking and Russia, the term "kompromat" became relevant. It referred to compromising materials that could be used against individuals for political purposes. The release of DNC emails by WikiLeaks raised concerns about the use of kompromat during the election.
In January, attention also shifted to Chelsea Manning, who was serving a prison sentence for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks. Manning's bleak life in a men's prison was highlighted, and later in the month, her sentence was commuted by President Obama, resulting in her early release.
The investigations into Russian election interference continued in February. The U.S. eased restrictions on cybersecurity sales to the Russian spy agency, and a Senate panel was formed to investigate the matter. However, the focus shifted to Michael Flynn, Trump's national security adviser, who abruptly resigned following revelations about his contacts with Russian officials.
The allegations of Trump's ties to Russia intensified, with intercepted communications indicating contact between Trump associates and Russians. Democrats pushed for further investigations into Trump-Russia ties, while media outlets explored Trump's connections to Russia dating back 30 years.
In March, the U.S. charged Russian FSB officers and their criminal conspirators for hacking Yahoo and millions of email accounts. The delayed response to the DNC cyber attack by Russia raised concerns, and attention turned to Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, and his business associate, who remained a key part of Trump's operation.
Russian denials and meetings between Russian officials and international figures, such as Marine Le Pen, added to the ongoing discussions. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, was set to meet with the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of the Russia probe. Reports also surfaced about Trump's business network reaching alleged Russian mobsters.
In May, the focus turned to the firing of FBI Director James Comey, leading to questions of a cover-up. The Trump administration found itself engulfed in Russia-related chaos, with staff reacting in real-time to Trump's tweets. Chelsea Manning's release from prison marked the closing of an extraordinary leak case.
Trump's actions further fueled speculation, as he defended his "absolute right" to share "facts" with Russia and expressed interest in bringing Michael Flynn back into the administration. Tensions mounted within the White House, with officials expressing concerns and uncertainties about Kushner's alleged Kremlin connection.
Meanwhile, Trump embarked on his first foreign trip, which generated European angst and uncertainties about the future of the NATO alliance. Reports of Kushner's alleged backchannel to the Kremlin added to the Russia scandal, casting doubts on his future role.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Europe could no longer rely on its traditional allies, including the United States, after Trump's visit and Brexit. As tensions mounted, Trump's team rallied around Kushner, and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster expressed no concern about the reports of the Kushner-Kremlin backchannel.
In summary, from January to May 2017, the news was dominated by discussions of Russian hacking, alleged interference in the U.S. election, and the connections between the Trump administration and Russia. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange played a role in casting doubt on Russia's involvement, while investigations and revelations raised questions about Trump's associates and their interactions with Russian officials. The ongoing Russia scandal created chaos within the Trump administration, with concerns about a cover-up and uncertainties surrounding key figures like Michael Flynn and Jared Kushner. The international implications of the scandal strained relationships with European allies and raised doubts about the future of the NATO alliance.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
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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 9 (January 2017 - May 2017):
Trump cites Assange claim about Russia hacking – USA Today January 4, 2017
Intel chiefs: We’re certain that Russia tried to influence U.S. election – USA Today January 5, 2017
U.S. Intelligence Report Identifies Russians Who Gave DNC Emails to Wikileaks – TIME January 5, 2017
The WikiLeaks-Russia connection started way before the 2016 election – Vox January 6, 2017
Following the Links From Russian Hackers to the U.S. Election – The New York Times January 6, 2017
Russia engineered election hacks and meddling in Europe – USA Today January 9, 2017
A Russian Word Americans Need To Know: ‘Kompromat’ – NPR January 11, 2017
Chelsea Manning Describes Bleak Life in a Men’s Prison – The New York Times January 13, 2017
Russia and the art of ‘kompromat’ – BBC January 14, 2017
Trump worries Nato with ‘obsolete’ comment – BBC January 16, 2017
U.S. eases restrictions on cyber-security sales to Russian spy agency – USA Today February 2, 2017
Senate panel to investigate Russian election interference – USA Today February 2, 2017
Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn abruptly resigns – USA Today February 13, 2017
Trump vs. Truth – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver February 13, 2017
Fired a month in: Michael Flynn’s rise and very fast fall – USA Today February 14, 2017
Russian lawmakers: Flynn pushed out to hurt Russia-U.S. relations – USA Today February 14, 2017
Democrats press for Trump-Russia probes on all fronts – USA Today February 15, 2017
Donald Trump’s ties to Russia go back 30 years – USA Today February 15, 2017
Trump, Russia and Flynn: A timeline of key events – USA Today February 15, 2017
Who’s who with Trump and Russia? A look at the key players – USA Today February 15, 2017
The pull of Putin – BBC February 15, 2017
Fact check: President Trump spins the facts on Michael Flynn – USA Today February 16, 2017
5 ways Congress is investigating Russia-Trump ties – USA Today February 17, 2017
Putin: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver February 20, 2017
Russian military admits significant cyber-war effort – BBC February 23, 2017
DNC cyber attack by Russia highlighted delayed response, FBI chief says – USA Today March 21, 2017
Rick Gates out at America First Policies over Manafort ties to Russia – CNN March 23, 2017
Russia denies it is supplying the Taliban after Nato general claim – BBC March 24, 2017
Putin meets Le Pen, denies French election interference – USA Today March 25, 2017
Jared Kushner to meet with Senate Intelligence Committee in Russia probe – USA Today March 27, 2017
Trump’s business network reached alleged Russian mobsters – USA Today March 28, 2017
Putin slams US election meddling claims as ‘lies’- CNN March 30, 2017
Information warfare: Is Russia really interfering in European states? – BBC March 31, 2017
Gorsuch sworn into Supreme Court, restores conservative tilt – AP News April 10, 2017
Team Bannon ‘Laying Low,’ After Being ‘Blindsided’ by Trump – Daily Beast April 12, 2017
Sean Hannity Suddenly Loves Julian Assange Now That He’s Anti-Hillary – Daily Beast April 13, 2017
Guess Who Came to Dinner With Flynn and Putin – NBC News April 18, 2017
How a cyber attack transformed Estonia – BBC April 27, 2017
Mysterious rash of Russian deaths casts suspicion on Vladimir Putin – USA Today May 2, 2017
Did President Trump fire James Comey as part of a cover-up? – BBC May 10. 2017
White House Staff React in Real-Time as Trump Tweets: ‘Jesus’ – Daily Beast May 12, 2017
White House Staff ‘Hiding’ as Russia Chaos Engulfs West Wing – Daily Beast May 15, 2017
Chelsea Manning Leaves Prison, Closing an Extraordinary Leak Case – The New York Times May 16, 2017
Trump defends ‘absolute right’ to share ‘facts’ with Russia – BBC May 16, 2017
Trump Officials: ‘He Looks More and More Like a Complete Moron’ – Daily Beast May 19, 2017
Trump’s first foreign trip: What’s on the agenda? – BBC May 21, 2017
Corey Lewandowski to Trump White House: ‘I’m Coming In.’ – Daily Beast May 22, 2017
Stupid Watergate – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver May 22, 2017
The Photo That May Help Unlock the Trump-Russia Scandal – Mother Jones May 23, 2017
Upon arrival, Trump sees Europe in stark terms – BBC May 23, 2017
European angst over Trump visit – BBC May 24, 2017
Donald Trump tells Nato allies to pay up at Brussels talks – BBC May 25, 2017
Nato and Trump: What future for the Atlantic alliance? – BBC May 25, 2017
Report: Kushner Wanted to Set Up Secret Kremlin Backchannel – Daily Beast May 26, 2017
White House’s Russia ‘War Room’ Built on Ticking Time Bomb – Daily Beast May 26, 2017
Russia scandal casts uncertainty over Kushner’s future role – Politico May 27, 2017
Merkel: Europe ‘can no longer rely on allies’ after Trump and Brexit – BBC May 28, 2017
Team Trump Rallies Around ‘Made Man’ Jared Kushner as Tensions Mount – Daily Beast May 28, 2017
McMaster ‘Not Concerned’ by Reports of Kushner-Kremlin Backchannel – Daily Beast May 28, 2017