Countering Democrat and Republicans’ narrative, 45-year-old exiled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange insisted that Russia was not the source of his published leaks during the 2016 campaign. Democrats and Republicans alike, especially Sen. John McCain and Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, insist that WikiLeaks used Russian hacks to expose shenanigans at the Democratic National Committee and emails of Hillary Campaign Chairman John D. Podesta. In an exclusive interview today with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Assange threw cold water on the current media witch-hunt fingering Russian President Vladimir Putin. President-elect Donald Trump has been criticized for not buying into the Cold War hysteria, accusing Russia of hacking the 2016 election. Assange rejected the idea that WikiLeaks altered the U.S. election.
During the campaign, Hillary insisted that 17 intelligence agencies verified Russian hacking during the 2016 campaign. Trump countered that before fingering the Kremlin, U.S. intelligence agencies need to release their data. Despite the media hubbub over Russian hacking, not a single intel agency has come forward with proof. Russian President Vladimir Puti insisted the Russian government was not behind the WikiLeaks disclosures that embarrassed Hillary and the DNC. Assange told Hannity that the leaks used by WikiLeaks did not come from a state source, hinting that a private party tied to the Hillary campaign might have sourced the leaks. President Barack Obama blamed Russia, expelled Russian diplomatic personnel and drove U.S.-Russian relations to new lows.. Meeting with Assange in Equador’s London embassy, Assange set the record straight about his sources.
Multiple sources blaming the Russians, including the White House, Hillary campaign, Capitol Hill war hawks led by McCain, and the liberal press, all offer zero proof of Russian hacking. “Can you say to the American people, unequivocally, that you did not get this information about the DNC, John Podesta’s emails, can you tell the American people 1,000 percent that you did not get it from Russia or anybody associated with Russia?” Hannit asked Assange. “We can say, we have said repeatedly that over the last two months, that our source is not the Russian government and it is not a state party,” Assange told Hannity. Whether private Russian hackers, someone from inside the DNC or some other place provided the emails is anyone’s guess. Without proof from the intel community, there’s n way of knowing, but, more importantly, restraint needed before blaming foreign governments.
Republicans and Democrats insist that WikiLeaks email dumps were intended to harm the Hillary campaign before Nov. 8. Without offering proof, U.S. intel officials insist they’ve linked “Guccifer 2,” the source of the email hacks, to the Kremlin. Expelling 35 Russian diplomatic personnel Dec. 29, Obama put his credibility on the line retaliating against Putin. It’s entirely possible that the Russians and unidentified others hacked DNC and Podesta’s emails. After visiting the Baltic States and Ukraine McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), also think Russia should be hit with more draconic sanctions, despite offering no proof of Russian hacking. Assange said there’s no way to prove that WikiLeaks impacted the 2016 election. Offering the public secret emails from the DNC and Podesta, Assange insists that voters formed their own opinions independent of WikiLeaks.
Asked to explain a motive behind Democrats and Republicans fingering the Kremlin, Assange thinks both parties are trying to de-legitimize the Trump presidency. McCain and Graham have an ax to grind against Trump, both part of the “Never Trump” movement. Democrats, including Hillary and Barack, can’t fathom the Election Day shellacking in the Electoral College. Obama campaigned his heart out for Hillary, hoping to preserve his legacy. Voters in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania rejected the Obama legacy by voting for Trump. Now in the chaos, the DNC struggles to find acceptable leadership, leaning toward 54-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter Rep. Keith Ellison (R-Mn.), a devout follower or Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan. Left in chaos Nov. 8, the Democratic and Republican Parties have a lot of soul searching to figure out Trump’s historic win.
Focusing on Russian hacking, the mainstream media, Republican and Democratic Parties, look for a scapegoat to avoid accountability for Trump’s historic victory. When you analyze the results, voters rejected the media and traditional parties, preferring an outsider for president. McCain and Graham’s sideshow, threatening to bring legislation for more Russian sanctions, shows that neither mainstream Democrats, Republicans nor the media have digested Trump’s Nov. 8 win. Trump campaigned on a promise to reset U.S.-Russian relations, not watch renegade members of Congress try to sabotage his foreign policy. Asked whether or not WikiLeaks changed the U.S. election, Assange answered, “who knows?” Hannity’s exclusive interview with Assange shows there’s far more doubt over Russian hacking than admitted to by the media, Democrats and Republicans.
