Staff Reports
On Donald Trump’s first day in office, he made a move that was no doubt as bold as expected. He signed an executive order aimed at stopping the weaponization of law enforcement and our intelligence community. This move surely made him some friends and enemies within the federal branches, and perhaps offered a moment of sincere déjà vu for those who have been following the bizarre twists and turns since the beginning of his presidency. Trump, having been under the federal microscope himself, expressed that no other American should endure what he did—cue the dramatic music and spotlight on the ongoing saga of the so-called Russia hoax.
In a shocking revelation that seems straight out of a spy novel, recently declassified documents showed just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Specifically, there was a report prepared for President Obama in December 2016, right after Trump won the election. This report indicated that Russian efforts didn’t have the impact needed to change election outcomes; this was only referring to some isolated hijinks in Chicago, apparently. But once this tidbit of rather comforting news reached those with more, shall we say, personal agendas, out came the red pens, ready to edit the truth away.
As the narrative goes, some of the political lifers elevated to leadership under Obama began a curious process of reverse engineering problems that, by the original accounts, didn’t exist. The facts were allegedly fiddled with, turned on their heads, and wrapped up in enough bureaucratic tape to pass any polygraph test. It seems Intelligence Community professionals came to a simple conclusion—moving on was in the nation’s best interest. Yet, their real reports never saw the light of day. High-ranking members of the administration saw to that, managed to conveniently just not hit “send” before anyone could get wise.
Fast forward to the aftermath of all this cloak-and-dagger behavior, and what did Americans witness? A whole bunch of taxpayer money—nearly $40 million—down the drain in wild goose chases, also known as investigations. Dueling journalism shows and committee hearings replaced the nation’s favorite TV dramas, packed with high tensions between the U.S. and Russia, and, of course, the saga of endless impeachments against Trump. Talk about plot twists! Even Trump’s family couldn’t escape the media frenzy, all based on allegedly twisted documents, and more than a few political scapegoats left to dry, politically speaking.
In a breathtaking dive into the declassified files, it’s like opening a dusty box of controversial novellas. With people like James Comey, James Clapper, and John Brennan as the leading characters on the drama stage, one might begin to question the storyline. They were apparently in the dramatic role of “leakers,” with their accomplices in the press eager to hand them a megaphone, all leading to grand narratives fit for a suspense thriller. As Tulsi Gabbard, who seems to now embody a mix of Nancy Drew and Julian Assange, says, this all threatens the very integrity of democracy. If cheaters and cable pundits can pull strings on reality, what hope does the average citizen have?
As the layers continue to peel away like an onion found in the White House basement, doesn’t the American public deserve a more thorough explanation? Could these revelations paint a picture of gross misconduct? The Department of Justice may be in the spotlight soon, with possible criminal investigations unraveling yet another sequel in this never-ending story. Amidst all the gossip, intrigue, and alleged corruption, one can only wonder what will ultimately come to light. But for now, it remains another riveting chapter in America’s most exhaustive political drama series.
