How much did Paul Ryan know about Russia's election interference and when did he know it?
House Speaker Paul Ryan is shocked! Shocked at the “extent of the subterfuge” Russia undertook to meddle in our election in 2016. That’s what he says, anyway, in response to the indictments handed down against 13 Russians.
“We have known that Russians meddled in the election, but these indictments detail the extent of the subterfuge. These Russians engaged in a sinister and systematic attack on our political system. It was a conspiracy to subvert the process, and take aim at the democracy itself. Today’s announcement underscores why we need to follow the facts and work to protect the integrity of future elections.”
There’s so much to unpack in these four sentences. First “these Russians”—as though these 13 Russians were representing an effort on behalf of Putin to get Trump elected. Second, “we need to follow the facts.” So, Mr. Ryan, why are you continuing to protect Rep. Devin Nunes, the Trump transition official who is working overtime to create smokescreens and diversions away from Russian interference in the election and, yes, the Trump campaign?
And your shock at the “sinister and systematic attack”? Like you didn’t already know about this? Like you weren’t getting briefed on it in “urgent, individual” briefings from then-CIA Director John Brennan beginning in August 2016?
