All tied up together: McGonigal, Trump, the Russian war in Ukraine, and U.S. national security

[CousinIT]

Original bird(shit)site thread:

Link to tweet

UNrolled thread:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1618309363084718080.html

In April 2016, I broke the story of Trump and Putin, using Russian open sources. Afterwards, I heard vague intimations that something was awry in the FBI in New York, specifically counter-intelligence and cyber. We now have a suggestion as to why. 0/20

The person who led the relevant section, Charles McGonigal, has just been charged with taking money from the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Follow this thread to see just how this connects to the victory of Trump, the Russian war in Ukraine, and U.S. national security. 1/20

The reason I was thinking about Trump & Putin in 2016 was a pattern. Russia had sought to control Ukraine, using social media, money, & a pliable head of state. Russia backed Trump the way that it had backed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, in the hopes of soft control 2/20

Trump & Yanukovych were similar figures: interested in money, & in power to make or shield money. And therefore vulnerable partners for Putin. They also shared a political advisor: Paul Manafort. He worked for Yanukovych from 2005-2015, taking over Trump's campaign in 2016. 3/20

You might remember Manafort's ties to Russia from 2016. He (and Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump, Jr.) met with Russians in June 2016 in Trump Tower as part of, as the broker of the meeting called it, "the Russian government's support for Trump" (#RoadToUnfreedom, p. 237). 4/20

Manafort had to resign as Trump's campaign manager in August 2016 when news broke that he had received $12.7 million in cash from Yanukovych. But these details are just minor elements of Manafort's dependence on Russia. (#RoadToUnfreedom, p. 235). 5/20

Manafort worked for Deripaska, the same Russian oligarch to whom McGonigal is linked, between 2006 and 2009. Manafort's assignment was to soften up the U.S for Russian influence. He promised "a model that can greatly benefit the Putin government." (#RoadToUnfreedom, p. 234). 6/20

While Manafort worked for Trump in 2016, though, Manafort's dependence on Russia was deeper. He owed Deripaska money, not a position one would want to be in. Manafort offered Deripaska "private briefings" on the campaign. He was hoping "to get whole." (#RoadToUnfreedom, 234) 7/20

Reconsider how the FBI treated the Trump-Putin connection in 2016. Trump and other Republicans screamed that the FBI had overreached. In retrospect, it seems the exact opposite took place. The issue of Russian influence was framed in a way convenient for Russia and Trump. 8/20

The FBI investigation, Crossfire Hurricane, focused on the narrow issue of personal connections between the Trump campaign and Russians. It missed Russia's cyber attacks and the social media campaign, which, according to Kathleen Hall Jamieson, won the election for Trump. 9/20

Once the issue of Russian soft control was framed narrowly as personal contact, Obama missed the big picture, and Trump had an easy defense. Trump knew that Russia was working for him, but the standard of guilt was placed so high that he could defend himself. 10/20

It is entirely inconceivable that McGonigal was unaware of Russia's 2016 cyber influence campaign on behalf of Trump. Even I was aware of it, and I had no expertise. It became one of the subjects of my book #RoadtoUnfreedom. 11/20

The FBI did investigate cyber later, and came to some correct conclusions. But this was after the election, and missed the Russian influence operations entirely. That was an obvious counterintelligence issue. Why did the FBI take so long, and miss the point? 12/20

I had no personal connection to this, but will just repeat what informed people said at the time: this sort of thing was supposed to go through the FBI counter-intelligence section in New York, where tips went to die. That is where McGonigal was in charge. 13/20

The cyber element is what McGonigal should have been making everyone aware of in 2016. In 2016, McGonigal was chief of the FBI's Cyber-Counterintelligence Coordination Section. That October, he was put in charge of the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI's NY office. 14/20

We need to understand why the FBI failed in 2016 to address the essence of an ongoing Russian influence operation. The character of that operation suggests that it would have been the responsibility of an FBI section whose head is now accused of taking Russian money. 15/20

Right after the McGonigal story broke, Kevin McCarthy ejected Adam Schiff from the House intelligence committee. Schiff is expert on Russian influence operations. It exhibits carelessness about national security to exclude him. It is downright suspicious to exclude him now. 16/20

Back in June 2016, Kevin McCarthy expressed his suspicion that Donald Trump was under Putin's influence. He and other Republican members concluded that the risk of an embarrassment to their party was more important than American security. #RoadToUnfreedom, p. 255. 17/20

The Russian influence operation to get Trump elected was real. It serves no one to pretend otherwise. We are still learning about it. Denying that it happened makes the United States vulnerable to ongoing Russian operations. 18/20

I remember a certain frivolity from 2016. Trump was a curiosity. Russia was irrelevant. Nothing to take seriously. Then Trump was elected, blocked weapon sales to Ukraine, and tried to stage a coup. Now Ukrainians are dying every day in the defining conflict of our time. 19/20

The McGonigal question goes even beyond these issues. He had authority in the most sensitive possible investigations within U.S. intelligence. Sorting this out will require a concern for the United States that goes beyond party loyalty. 20/20

[gab13by13]

1. Every other thread here should be about Charles McGonigal

He is being swept under the rug already, The right wing has already put its slant on McGonigal meanwhile Democrats allow them to put out a fake story about him. Jesus, now they have Hunter Biden connected to him.

I understand that domestic oligarchs own and manage the MSM, but c'mon Dems. call a press conference, look up reporters, this guy is a link to Russia stealing the election.

[Hope22]

9. This!

It’s almost like the Top Secret Story was thrown out there to give the talking heads something else to focus on. Totally frustrating!

[live love laugh]

21. ✔️ Suspicious timing. Totally a distraction!

[Irish_Dem]

2. We must connect the dots to understand what is happening to the US.

If we don't face the reality, we cannot successfully fight.

[gab13by13]

5. I listened to Stephanie Miller today

she played a half dozen sound bites of Magats spinning the McGonigal situation. They are creating an entirely opposite story about what McGonigal did. It pisses me off that Democrats can't find a microphone and try to shape the narrative back to the truth.

This is why I only watch Nicolle, I guarantee that she will push this story. Fucking Gym Jordan has McGonigal working with Democrats, McGonigal giving money to Democrats. They create 2 narratives and a heck of a lot of people believe the fake narrative.

[ancianita]

11. Good thing she has a microphone. The reason

Gym Jordan can get out in front of this with "alt" fake shit is because of the fact that the McGonigal/Russian activities are being investigated, so media hasn't got much to go on. Yet. By the time media do, the facts will be out. It's not about the charges we see, it's about the charges to come, frustrating as that is to live with.

The only people who believe Jordan are the same media and loons who believed all the fake narratives that put him there.

[gab13by13]

12. It is not being covered at all

on ABC, CBS, CNN, and only marginally on MSNBC.

There is only 1 narrative being pushed by the MSM and that is being pushed on FOX, there is no counter-narrative.

The Magats are projecting on to Democrats what they did. The reason I know it isn't being covered is because I heard it on Stephanie Miller, my TV doesn't turn on until 4:00 PM.

[ancianita]

20. Well, what more can be covered, once a crime has been charged,

but the ongoing investigation can't be explained to media?

The reality is that we can't get the truthful narrative out (which ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC try to be -- truthful) as fast as lying cover stories and hate mongering shit talk. Which is why even MSNBC can't keep repeating the same info. Of course media and political grifters will make shit up. Lying cover stories make money.

It all feels so wrong, but its the irresponsible, for-profit misuse of freedom. In a big country full of big problems, it can feel like not fixing everything right away means we can't fix anything.

[Irish_Dem]

16. It has been quite easy for the Putin GOP to shape the narrative and spread propaganda.

You hear people spout nonsense everywhere.

Yes it is all typical of psy ops programs and how criminals cover their tracks.

[Ligyron]

23. The R's definitely have there shit together and we don't.

From stealing seats on the SC to controlling the airwaves to gaming the EC and opposing everything we try to do for the American public they've managed to skunk us at every turn it seems.

Hate to be cynical but glad I'm old.

[dchill]

3. K&R.

[enid602]

4. Rudy

I want to know how Rudy might be tied into all of this.

[onetexan]

6. K&R

[TygrBright]

7. This is the money shot:

"Right after the McGonigal story broke, Kevin McCarthy ejected Adam Schiff from the House intelligence committee. Schiff is expert on Russian influence operations. It exhibits carelessness about national security to exclude him. It is downright suspicious to exclude him now. 16/20"

In other words - GOP leadership is peddling as fast as it can to buy time for Congresscritters owned by Russia to cover up. Not a good look.

suspiciously,
Bright

[DENVERPOPS]

19. Exactly TB

that is what I zeroed in on immediately..........

Pelosi said: ALL roads lead to Russia

Hillary said: There is a giant right wing conspiracy......

If Putin was the president of the united states, he couldn't do a better job of destroying Democracy and the United States that the Republican Politicians are doing.............

I just have to wonder who the person(s) are, hidden in the background, that are obviously directing every facet of this New Republican party.....

[republianmushroom]

8. 24 months and counting

[Martin Eden]

10. Very important dot connecting!

I hope this whole thing doesn't go down the Memory Hole.

[gab13by13]

13. It already is.

This should be 24/7 front page news.

[ancianita]

25. It can't possibly be when ONGOING investigations CANNOT reveal what they're actually doing

for the front page. We keep indulging in distrust of rule of law enforcers when we shouldn't.

[C0RI0LANUS]

14. Good Afternoon Cousin It-- Rumor

Had you heard or read anywhere that Donald J. Trump was a Confidential Informant (CI) for the FBI? And that allegedly he would occasionally cough up a Russian or Italian mobster or money launderer to SDNY prosecutors?

Trump escaped prosecution for decades, while associates of his would get convicted. (If true, Robert Mueller investigated POTUS knowing full well that Trump was a CI. So Mueller had to avoid compromising that leak, limiting the scope of his investigation).

Anyways, if you heard of such a rumor or theory, please advise. This is merely "RUMINT."

And thank you for connecting the dots in your above post..

Corolanus

[thesquanderer]

15. Previously reported at...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217590535

[TeamProg]

17. K&R Thanks for posting. n/t

[malaise]

18. Great thread

and my favorite knot to boot
Rec

[KS Toronado]

22. As more & more repuQ's shenanigans come into the light

this year and next their old "all Ds are evil and all Rs are innocent saints" bullshit is going to kick them in
the butt. Wonder if they'll ever regret all their lies? Their party is being exposed as worthless.

Big Blue Wave coming in 2024

[summer_in_TX]

24. Now it all is coming together!

All the disparate parts start to fall into place.