In Russia We Trust

By: Jesse Van Mouwerik

We've been undermined, we've been hacked, we've been compromised. Who could possibly be responsible for all of this? The Russians of course. Since late 2016 news sources have been ladled with a multitude of articles about Russian hackers meddling with the election and assisting then candidate Donald Trump cinch the election. An investigation was then opened by the FBI to investigate any connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. However, recent news has come to light that it all might have been a sham. Once again politicians trying to further their own agenda clouded the scope of the American people when trying to choose a candidate to vote for.

Voting, one of the most coveted rights of the American people that people look forward to when they turn 18. So why do politicians make such a point to undermine their opponents rather than build up their own moral character? After all at this point none of them have a shroud of morality left.

In October 2016, former British spy turned private investigator, Christopher Steele released a dossier on candidate Trump making multiple connections between senior advisers and the Kremlin. The dossier provided the necessary information for the Obama administration to gain a FISA and open an investigation into the campaign. So why does this matter now? I mean it's not like we haven't heard about this nearly each month since the dossier was released. Well, recent interviews and memos released have revealed that the Russian collusion is much more complicated and sadly politically charged.

By: Wikimedia Commons

In January, an extensive interview with Glenn Simpson, a former journalist and private investigator responsible for hiring Christopher Steele revealed new details pertaining the final days prior to the presidential election in 2016. It raised sea of questions concerning what the FBI knew at the time as well as to why the Federal Government remained quiet. The biggest concern that Simpson's interview raised was that despite what he believes about the FBI investigation, he's convinced the FBI was compromised.

In light of this interview, the Senate Intelligence Committee, headed by Devin Nunes released a memo releasing information claiming that Hillary Clinton's campaign was Steele's source of information for his dossier, which Clinton's campaign also commissioned. This alone suggests that Clinton's campaign was working with the Obama administration in order to damage Trump's image. It all seems rather subversive or immature that a group of politicians would go through so much trouble in order to get enough information to open an investigation that turns out to be based solely upon unverified information.

However, who is to say that anything in this memo is true? Since Nunes released the memo to the public, he has faced significant backlash, one reporter from MSNBC going as far as to call him a Russian spy. House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are now calling for Nunes to
be removed from the Committee for wrongfully accusing the Hillary Clinton campaign. Last Tuesday, Pelosi had tried to get the House to vote for a "privileged resolution" which would allow Democrats to release their memo to the public in order to set the record straight.

In the Democratic memo, it talks about how Republicans are trying to undermine the Russian investigation by crafting a misleading document. The Republican memo misrepresents sensitive information in order to cause confusion and doubt with the ongoing investigation. Democratic representative Adam Schiff criticized the Intelligence committee for putting the President's own agenda ahead of their national duty.

By: Wikimedia Commons

But now, how does the information in the memos affect the actual FISA investigation? Especially when the FISA court itself is in question of constitutionality? FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) prohibits any kind of domestic spying without a warrant, however, the sole requirement for a warrant? Probable cause. This allows the Government to open any kind of investigation without an actual case at hand.

Nonetheless, in light of the information brought to attention in the Republican memo, will the investigation have to be thrown out because the way in which the warrant was obtained was tainted? Does it violate the search and seizure amendment in the Constitution? Was that the goal?

Who is to say whether the Republicans' only goal was to release the memo giving enough reasonable doubt to taint the investigation to ensure that if anything was found no one would face any ramifications? But, then again who is to say that the Democratic memo was simply to try and save face, painting Republicans in the most villainous light possible? Both parties have their own agenda when it comes to this investigation that only seems to deepen and get more and more complicated.

So, what is this doing for our country? It's simply another he said she said moment between the Republicans and the Democrats pointing fingers at each other; another round of political theatre only causing further polarization between the people. At this point the only thing on politicians minds are the midterm elections quickly approaching in November. But what about the American people? When will politicians quit pointing fingers and take responsibility for their own actions? When will they finally take in the national interest of the people rather than the protection of their party?