Special counsel Robert Mueller’s Friday indictment of 12 Russian intelligence agents for hacking Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the servers of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) during the 2016 election mentioned two notorious Twitter accounts that were amplified by several prominent conservatives: Guccifer 2.0 and DCLeaks.
Trump adviser Roger Stone has acknowledged communicating with Guccifer 2.0 during the 2016 campaign, but that account denied any connection to Russia. U.S. intelligence, however, assessed “with high confidence” that Russian intelligence was behind both DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0, which provided the stolen information about Clinton’s campaign and the DNC to Wikileaks.
Here are notable conservatives, several of whom now occupy top positions in the White House, who promoted Russian propaganda during the 2016 election. None of the following tweets have been deleted.
Donald Trump
In addition to mentioning Wikileaks 164 times in the final month of the campaign alone, then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump promoted the emails that were stolen by Russian intelligence agents in numerous tweets:
Leaked e-mails of DNC show plans to destroy Bernie Sanders. Mock his heritage and much more. On-line from Wikileakes, really vicious. RIGGED
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
We've all wondered how Hillary avoided prosecution for her email scheme. Wikileaks may have found the answer. Obama! https://t.co/xF0wv8Oa8q
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2016
Huma calls it a "MESS," the rest of us call it CORRUPT! WikiLeaks catches Crooked in the act – again.#DrainTheSwamp https://t.co/juvdLIJPWu
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2016
WikiLeaks: 'Clinton-Kaine Even Lied About Timing of Veep Pick'https://t.co/e1NVdpSfNr
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2016
WikiLeaks emails reveal Podesta urging Clinton camp to 'dump' emails.
Time to #DrainTheSwamp!https://t.co/P3ajiACiXK— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2016
Donald Trump Jr.
The president’s oldest son also promoted the information that had been stolen from his father’s opponent by Russian intelligence agents:
Shocker: Trump "protests" were staged by DNC. From latest leak. Scared that we will break up their DC gravy train! https://t.co/FnnJ6kpCN6
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 15, 2016
Wow. Poor Bernie. He never had a chance running agains the most corrupt candidate in the history of the presidency. https://t.co/MtIKnDoxpj
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 3, 2016
WIKILEAKS: Hillary Got $12 Million for Clinton Charity As Quid Pro Quo For Morocco Meeting https://t.co/oL4wexTt7b via dailycaller
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 22, 2016
The most corrupt candidate in American history: Seven more Hillary Clinton scandals exposed WikiLeaks – https://t.co/YvZmAA6bGW – @washtimes
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 14, 2016
WIKILEAKS: Hillary Clinton Sent THOUSANDS of Classified Cables Marked “(C)” for Confidential https://t.co/RzMaW1uN0x via gatewaypundit
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 4, 2016
Eric Trump
Trump’s middle son also amplified the Russian propaganda efforts and expressed disappointment that there wasn’t more media coverage:
This behavior by the DNC and #CrookedHillary is unacceptable and should be illegal. What horrible people. #WhereIsTheMedia https://t.co/I2BLflXuXR
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 15, 2016
This is why nothing gets done in Washington! America needs doers, not talkers. https://t.co/fVuvHT3WwS
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 17, 2016
Laura, remember there is a "public" and a "private" position on all facts and political topics… #Politicians https://t.co/XYFLdQgsYa
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 21, 2016
The corruption between Hillary and the administration is staggering. This is an embarrassment to America… #MAGA https://t.co/sza5rXCEH0
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 16, 2016
Sad that the press refuses to cover Hillary's #WikiLeaks corruption — Probably why only 6% of Americans trust the media! #RIPJournalism
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 14, 2016
Sean Hannity
The Fox News host was all about the material that had been stolen by Russian intelligence agents and claimed Wikileaks had never been wrong:
LEAKED EMAIL appears to link Clinton Campaign Chairman to bizarre occult ritual https://t.co/TRbdaEOM6y
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 4, 2016
NEXT on #Hannity: We'll examine the latest batch of @johnpodesta emails @wikileaks has released – what do they reveal?
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 14, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump campaign manager @KellyannePolls joins us NOW to react to the latest @wikileaks revelations on the Clinton camp. #Hannity
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 25, 2016
Question of the Day: Why is the media not spending more time covering the @wikileaks emails? Share your thoughts using #Hannity.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 15, 2016
In 10 yrs @wikileaks has gotten nothing wrong & no one's been killed bc of the info released. #freejulianassange #freeinternet for all.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 21, 2016
Bill O’Reilly
The former Fox News host also promoted the material that had been stolen by Russian intelligence agents:
Tonight on The Factor, we'll tell you the latest revelations about the Clinton campaign in the big WikiLeaks hack – https://t.co/M9UQw38P6S
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) October 14, 2016
The Wikileaks hack into John Podesta's email proves beyond any doubt that the press is corrupt. A special report tonight on The Factor –BO’R
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) October 12, 2016
New Watters' World airs tonight on @FoxNews at 8pm, 11pm and 2am ET. You won't want to miss it! https://t.co/iUB2IBaAX5
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) October 22, 2016
Kellyanne Conway
Trump’s 2016 campaign manager and current counselor also amplified the Russian propaganda efforts:
Totally agree with Green party candidate @DrJillStein here. Read the #wikileaks for yourself. https://t.co/FGBwIl9LDl
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) July 23, 2016
Evidentiary. https://t.co/9uIq2jU0bV
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) November 1, 2016
Sure, the Clinton Foundation has done good work. But it's best work seemed to be for Bill Clinton. $$$$$$ https://t.co/4lbzrxrgfC
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) October 27, 2016
One set of rules for the Clintons and one set of rules for the rest of us. https://t.co/YR8VuviXQM
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) November 6, 2016
Leaked DNC Documents Show Plans To Reward Big Donors With Federal Appointments https://t.co/EhFEyd5qk2 via @dailycaller
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) July 25, 2016
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
The White House press secretary and former senior adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign provided links to the material that had been stolen by Russian intelligence agents:
One thing R's & D's can agree on: Disgraceful how @BernieSanders was treated by Hillary and her cronies https://t.co/us3UzRY4jY
— Sarah Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) November 3, 2016
So true. Hillary has given Americans no compelling reason whatsoever to vote FOR herhttps://t.co/FioVu9eT7X
— Sarah Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) November 5, 2016
Worst scandal since Watergate. Thank you to real journalists willing to expose the cover up vs. be part of it https://t.co/70ZKtyhx8v
— Sarah Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) October 27, 2016
Still no apologies/firings for Team Hillary's anti-Catholic & anti-Evangelical bigotry. Hillary a danger to us allhttps://t.co/e0HJfcQ9gu
— Sarah Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) October 13, 2016
#DraintheSwamp https://t.co/oA8RF9Gxqu
— Sarah Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) November 7, 2016
Dan Scavino
The White House director of social media also promoted Russia’s propaganda efforts in his role as the Trump campaign’s director of social media:
WikiLeaks caught Crooked's staff telling her to "take the money" from foreign governments-that should be her slogan! https://t.co/RsNMt8bIcp
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) October 17, 2016
Wikileaks: Hillary’s Aides Urged Her to Take Foreign Lobbyist Donation And Deal With Attacks: https://t.co/vR7DqmI4EB
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) October 18, 2016
.@RuthMarcus– my opinion: I suggest you read the DNC emails. They are experts at rigging elections. #Fact https://t.co/FQrK7voNaQ
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) August 4, 2016
Donate to LYIN' Crooked Hillary Clinton- and you could nail down that FEDERAL APPOINTMENT you have always wanted! https://t.co/4Ms7SOPFsp
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) July 25, 2016
Laura Ingraham
The Fox News host boosted Russia’s propaganda efforts by linking directly to Wikileaks and expressed disappointment that more Republicans weren’t mentioning the material that had been stolen by Russian intelligence agents:
FRAUD: "[T]hey believe the Obama forces flooded the caucuses with ineligible voters [in 2008]." https://t.co/Ci7NHEnU0b #Wikileaks
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 23, 2016
Wikileaks reveals Wicked truth about @HillaryClinton real views on #TPP. @SenSanders supporters take note! https://t.co/b9qZYuQZ2G
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 26, 2016
WikiLeaks: Clinton Campaign Chair Participated in Occult Magic https://t.co/HC5SK6IZCh via @LifeZette
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 4, 2016
Why isn't Trump rattling off the Wikileaks Greatest Hits?
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 20, 2016
Yesterday @MarcoRubio said that Republicans shdnt be talking abt #Wikileaks. Unilateral disarmament.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 19, 2016
Michael Cohen
Trump’s former attorney also shared material from the Russian propaganda campaign:
#PodestaEmails#25 A must read before you vote!https://t.co/bMvs3uXi4X
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) November 1, 2016
.@wikileaks and yet #MSM just refuses to cover. Obsessed with nonsense and lies about @realDonaldTrump
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) October 15, 2016
The more #PodestaLeaks #WIKILEAKS puts out, the more the American people see #Clinton as corrupt and want to #LockHerUp. pic.twitter.com/pVgwzVCENW
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) November 3, 2016
In a July 2016 tweet, Trump mocked the claim that Russia was behind the Clinton and DNC hacks:
“The new joke in town is that Russia leaked the disastrous DNC e-mails, which should never have been written (stupid), because Putin likes me”