The Plot Thickens

There is mounting evidence that not only did the Russian regime engage in cyber espionage to benefit Putin poodle Donald "Rump" Trump in the election, but that members of the Rump campaign were coordinating on a regular basis with Russia. Three top Rump associates -- former campaign manager Paul Manafort, business advisor and Russophile Carter Page, and long-time political ratf*cker Roger Stone -- are the subject of a Federal counterintelligence investigation into communications and financial transactions with the Russian government during the course of the Rump campaign. Investigators also are looking into evidence that Russia paid pensioners living in the U.S. to either participate in "fake news" efforts or to launder money to benefit the Rump campaign. In a related story, Russian hacker Stanislav Lisov was arrested at the Barcelona airport by Spanish police on a warrant issued by the FBI through Interpol. Lisov had previously fled the U.S. after his role in the hacking computers to embarrass Secretary Clinton's campaign was uncovered. He's being held pending an extradition request from the U.S.

The ominous element in this investigative process is that, once Rump is sworn in, he can use his executive power to redirect or to shut down these investigations. The likelihood is great that he will, because his overweening narcissism and sociopathy won't allow him to believe that he was elected as a result of the intervention of a hostile foreign government (even though he actively encouraged Russia to hack Secretary Clinton's emails). That's a direct threat to our democracy, and an open invitation to Putin to meddle again.