Former President Donald Trump, it seems, has pulled a Houdini act yet again and slipped the knot of the Russian collusion investigation.
In a recent stream of government bluster and blather, it was shown that there’s now ample evidence showing neither the FBI nor the CIA held any solid proof of Russian sympathies or collusion by Trump. The crux of Operation Crossfire Hurricane was, as it turns out, more a whisper of smoke than an actual storm. And the Mueller investigation? A merry-go-round that circled an empty pot.
The Questionable Role of Durham
The critique also raises questions on the role of John Durham, the special counsel leading the investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia inquiry. Despite the conflicting assertions over Russia’s role (or lack thereof) in the DNC hack, he seemingly overlooked the this event completely. Even when it came to dealing with the controversial Steele dossier, did he scrutinize it with a magnifying glass? Critics argue “no,” citing that he didn’t delve deeply. He did note that the FBI agreed to pay the dossier’s source a bonus if he could corroborate his allegations. Was this bonus paid though? Doubtful but unanswered.
The Fallout of the Investigation
In recent commentary, Roger Stone heavily criticized the investigation for essentially “indicting the getaway driver for double parking while letting the bank robbers flee.” This brings to light the imbalance of the justice system where higher-ups involved in potential conspiracy walk free, while the lower-level individuals face prosecution. Stone argued that Durham’s report is minimalist, focusing more on those who lied to the FBI than on those who may have perpetrated the more significant crimes.
Implications and Unanswered Questions
The implications of this perspective are profound. It raises crucial questions about the validity and depth of the investigations that led to the indictments of individuals like General Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Paul Manafort, and Roger Stone. The critique prompts a reassessment of whether these individuals were unjustly framed for non-existent Russian collusion, a narrative that formed the bedrock of these investigations.
