Fact check: Tell me how Hillary and her opperatives , using the fbi, created the russiagate scandal

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a complex picture that does not support the claim that Hillary Clinton and her operatives "created" the Russiagate scandal using the FBI. However, there is documented evidence of Clinton campaign involvement in opposition research activities.

Confirmed Clinton Campaign Activities:

• Hillary Clinton personally approved a plan to share Trump-Russia allegations with the press in 2016 ^[1]
• The Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee were fined by the FEC for not properly disclosing money spent on opposition research that led to the Trump-Russia dossier ^[2]

FBI and Official Investigations:

• The FBI indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers for interfering with the 2016 U.S. elections, indicating actual Russian interference occurred ^[3]
• Special prosecutor John Durham concluded that the FBI "acted hastily and relied too much on raw and unconfirmed intelligence" in its Trump-Russia probe, but this criticism was directed at FBI procedures, not evidence of Clinton manipulation ^[4]
• Federal investigators ultimately concluded there were no improper Trump-Alfa cyber links ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial facts that provide important context:

Russian Interference Was Real:

• Multiple investigations confirmed actual Russian interference in the 2016 election, with 12 Russian military intelligence officers indicted ^[3]
• The characterization of the entire investigation as a "scandal" ignores documented evidence of foreign interference

Counter-Narrative Perspective:

• There exists a "Russia investigation origins counter-narrative" described as a false conspiracy theory created by Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and other right-wing conservatives to attack the legitimacy of investigations into Russian interference ^[5]
• Critics argue that Trump-Russia revisionism has emerged, with some reevaluating media coverage, though the underlying scandal was not a hoax ^[6]

Durham Investigation Results:

• The Durham probe, specifically appointed to investigate possible FBI and CIA misconduct, did not uncover evidence of a 'hoax' or 'witch-hunt' against Trump ^[7]
• Igor Danchenko, a key figure in the Steele dossier, was acquitted of charges related to lying about his sources ^[7]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several problematic elements that suggest bias and potential misinformation:

Overstated Claims:

• The statement assumes Clinton "created" the scandal rather than acknowledging that her campaign engaged in standard opposition research that was later investigated by federal authorities
• It implies the FBI was used as a tool by Clinton operatives, when evidence shows the FBI conducted its own investigation based on intelligence concerns ^[4]

Selective Framing:

• The statement frames the entire Russia investigation as a manufactured "scandal" while ignoring documented Russian interference activities that warranted investigation ^[3]
• It presents a narrative that aligns with what sources describe as a "false conspiracy theory narrative" promoted by Trump allies ^[5]

Missing Nuance:

• The statement fails to acknowledge that while the Clinton campaign funded opposition research and the FBI made procedural errors, these facts don't necessarily support the conclusion that the entire investigation was fabricated
• It ignores that Trump's behavior after the 2020 election revealed his willingness to go to great lengths to hold on to power, which provides context for evaluating his claims about the Russia investigation ^[6]

The evidence suggests that while the Clinton campaign engaged in opposition research activities that contributed to the Trump-Russia narrative, characterizing this as "creating" the Russiagate scandal oversimplifies a complex situation involving real Russian interference, FBI investigative procedures, and political opposition research.