White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has unequivocally declared the infamous Russiagate affair to be a “literal coup” against then-President Donald Trump, asserting that it possessed the “criminal elements” of a meticulously planned conspiracy. Speaking on “Sunday Morning Futures,” Miller emphasized the profound implications of these events, portraying them as an unprecedented assault on American democracy, far exceeding any historical parallel.
This assertive stance comes amidst recent declassifications by the Trump administration, which purportedly indicate that Hillary Clinton may have given her approval to a fabricated Russia collusion hoax during the intensely contested 2016 presidential campaign. These documents suggest a calculated effort to undermine Trump’s candidacy and eventual presidency through manufactured allegations.
Further bolstering Miller’s claims are the findings from former Special Counsel John Durham’s comprehensive investigation. Durham’s probe suggested that the Obama-era FBI seemingly overlooked critical intelligence that could have linked Clinton’s campaign, its supporters, or even Russian disinformation efforts to the propagation of ties between Trump’s team and Moscow, particularly as a diversion from Clinton’s own email controversy. This alleged oversight raises significant questions about the impartiality of the initial investigation.
Miller passionately reiterated his belief that the “Russia collusion hoax against President Trump remains the single greatest hoax and the greatest assault on our democracy in the history of this country.” He stressed that there is “no comparison, there’s no parallel to anything else,” firmly stating that “it was a coup,” and underscoring that it meets the legal definitions of a conspiracy against the government and a conspiracy to deprive citizens of their civil rights, describing it as “one egregious felony after another.”
Conversely, prominent figures from the Obama administration, including former President Barack Obama himself and top national security veterans such as former CIA Director John Brennan and ex-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, have consistently refuted claims of a “treasonous conspiracy” linked to the Russiagate fiasco. In a New York Times op-ed, Brennan and Clapper affirmed that while John Durham found no evidence of an Obama administration conspiracy against Mr. Trump, he did corroborate Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s findings of substantial Russian interference in the election, though not in collusion with the Trump campaign.
Despite these counter-arguments, Miller contended that the newly disclosed information “eliminates any scintilla of doubt about the intention, the premeditation, the planning and orchestration of this conspiracy.” His unwavering conviction points to a belief that the narrative surrounding Russiagate has been definitively altered by these revelations, providing clear evidence of a concerted effort against the former president.
Echoing Miller’s sentiment, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, a former prosecutor and congressman, also recently indicated his belief that the statute of limitations would not impede further action because the alleged political conspiracy is considered ongoing. This perspective adds another layer of gravity to the accusations, suggesting that the implications of the Russiagate affair could still unfold in the legal and political arenas.
In response to the public disclosure of various documents, including those purportedly showing officials withholding intelligence to undermine Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi has initiated a “review.” This critical undertaking is specifically tasked with evaluating all the evidence pertaining to the Obama administration’s efforts to drive the Russia collusion allegations, ensuring a thorough examination of this complex and contentious period in American politics. The outcomes of this review could reshape public understanding of the entire John Durham investigation and its lasting impact on the Trump administration.
