“The United States intelligence community has now concluded with “high confidence” that a foreign power, namely Russia, acted covertly to interfere in the presidential campaign with the intent of promoting Donald Trump’s candidacy,” the letter from the electors stated. “During the campaign Russia actively attempted to influence the election outcome through cyber attacks on our political institutions and a comprehensive propaganda campaign coordinated through WikiLeaks and other outlets.”
The group also used an ironic inference made by Trump to further push their anti-Russian agenda.
“Donald Trump even made a direct plea to the Russian government to interfere further in the election in a press conference on July 27, saying, ‘Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,’” the letter said.
Barely three hours later, the Clinton campaign was all over it.
“The bipartisan electors' letter raises very grave issues involving our national security,” John Podesta said in a statement. “Electors have a solemn responsibility under the Constitution and we support their efforts to have their questions addressed."
The scandal-plagued campaign chair then again question the legitimacy of Trump’s election, which Clinton’s campaign had branded as a practically treasonous act, if the now President-elect had done it.
“Each day that month, our campaign decried the interference of Russia in our campaign and its evident goal of hurting our campaign to aid Donald Trump,” he said. “Despite our protestations, this matter did not receive the attention it deserved by the media in the campaign. We now know that the CIA has determined Russia's interference in our elections was for the purpose of electing Donald Trump. This should distress every American.”
During the election season, outlets such as the Huffington Post warned that if Trump questioned the results of the vote it would lead to violence and act to undermine democracy.
In October, at a rally in Cleveland, Clinton asserted that anything other than a “peaceful transition of power,” is a “threat to democracy.”
“We know the difference between leadership and dictatorship, and the peaceful transition of power is one of the things that sets us apart,” Clinton told the crowd. “Donald Trump refused to say that he’d respect the results of this election. By doing that, he’s threatening our democracy.”
“Whether or not you support me or you support my opponent, together we must support American democracy,” Clinton said.
