Before a pandemic, there was a time when we were relentlessly told to fear Russian social media accounts. Their juvenile memes not only elected Trump, but also "sowed chaos." When Mueller indicted 13 Russians over it, he was hailed as a hero. Well, DOJ just dropped the case: 
For a snapshot in time, this was the NYT homepage after the Russian troll farm indictment back in February 2018. Russia, we were told, "is engaged in a virtual war against the United States."
Given the very real crisis that we are facing now, I'm wondering if it's sinking for more people what a ridiculous farce 3+ years of hyperventilating about stolen emails and juvenile social media memes was.
Another flashback to February 2018, when the Russian troll farm employees were indicted:
[holding back tears]
"Finally, it feels like someone is defending us."
[holding back tears]
"Finally, it feels like someone is defending us."
With DOJ dropping an indictment of a Russian troll farm, we may have to come to terms with the possibility that the perpetrators of these egregious attacks on our democracy are never brought to justice:
Not going to post about this further. Things are too serious. I hope everyone at least enjoyed a little comic relief.
Clarification: DOJ is dropping case against the troll farm; looks like charges against its 13 employees remain. Also: this case was always a joke. Mueller team filed it to help justify their useless investigation. They never expected troll farm to show up in court & fight it.
p.s. a) to people claiming this is all Bill Barr's doing: the motion to dismiss was signed by a prosecutor on Mueller team and another who worked closely w/ Mueller team. Are they compromised too? nytimes.com/2020/03/16/us/…
b) by dropping case against troll farm, DOJ is effectively dropping the case, even though individual troll farm workers still indicted. Troll farm was only defendant to show up in court, & trial was just weeks away. An admission of defeat in one of Mueller's showpiece cases.
Also: none of this matters, except to underscore yet again what a colossal waste of time & energy Russiagate was. The only worth that could come from even discussing it publicly anymore will be in the form of apology and humility from those who peddled it for 3+ years.
