Thread by @maxbergmann

As we wait for Mueller, let’s not forget he has already revealed an absolutely massive scandal. He has detailed a Russian conspiracy vs. the US. This was an enormous and sophisticated attack on our democracy. And Trump aided and abetted this attack. This isn’t hyperbole. 1/

Mueller has shown that the Russians - through the IRA - had a digital campaign on par w/ that of a presidential campaign. They had 80(!) people. That’s roughly the same size as the Clinton campaign’s digital team! 2/

They bought online ads, organized political rallies, disparaged Trump’s opponent, spread false information, and influenced coverage. This was a big operation and it sought to help elect Trump. 3/

Russian military intelligence also engaged in a year-long hacking campaign vs. Trump’s opponents. It wasn’t just a random phishing email to Podesta; they targeted 60+ Clinton campaign staff. 4/

Russian intel officers broke into the DNC servers, were capturing info as people typed, and stole “DNC analytics,” field operation research, donor lists, and lost of emails. 5/

(Sidenote: One outstanding question is what did the Russians do with all that other content they stole? Not all of it was published by Wikileaks.) 5a/

Russia also deployed alleged intel assets - the Maltese prof who told the Trump campaign about the hack and stolen Clinton emails; Konstantin Kilimnik, Manafort’s right hand man, who got polling data; and Maria Butina targeted NRA and key GOP leaders. 6/

This was not some small operation, it was a full-on sophisticated campaign.

And b/c of the Mueller investigation - and in contrast to the UK where Russian interference in Brexit is still a question - we know that Russia attacked our democracy. 7/

Therefore, whether Mueller brings further indictments or implicates Trump, what is clear is that as Russia was attacking us, as this crime was being committed, Trump encouraged it, defended it. He ran toward the crime. 8/

At the June 9th meeting, the Trump campaign sought to get the dirt Russia had on Clinton. Trump encouraged Russia publicly to continue conspiring vs. the US. And the Trump campaign sought to coordinate w/ WikiLeaks, who they knew got stolen materials from Russia. 9/

And then after he became President, Trump sought to downplay this attack. He again and again attacked the intelligence community and the Justice Department investigating this conspiracy against the US. And Trump did nothing to respond to Russia’s attack. 10/

So even if nothing more is revealed what’s clear is that Trump - even Mueller deems no laws were broken - is a danger to US national security. He’s been compromised by Russia (Trump Tower Moscow and his lies), making this is an on-going national security crisis. 11/11