Introduction
In "Russian Roulette," investigative journalists Michael Isikoff and David Corn provide a detailed account of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The book offers a comprehensive look at the events leading up to and following the election, focusing on the connections between Donald Trump's campaign and Russian officials. It explores the complex web of relationships, secret meetings, and covert operations that shaped one of the most controversial elections in American history.
The authors draw on extensive research and interviews to piece together a narrative that reads like a political thriller. They trace the origins of Russian involvement back to Trump's business dealings in Moscow and follow the thread through the campaign, the election, and into the early days of the Trump presidency. The book provides context for the ongoing investigations into Russian meddling and offers insights into the motivations of key players on both sides.
Trump's Moscow Connections
The story begins with Donald Trump's efforts to expand his business empire into Russia. In November 2013, Trump brought his Miss Universe pageant to Moscow, hoping to make a good impression on Russian President Vladimir Putin and pave the way for future business opportunities.
Trump was particularly eager to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, and he saw the pageant as a chance to network with influential Russians who could help make that dream a reality. He worked closely with Emin Agalarov, an Azerbaijani pop star, and his father Aras Agalarov, a billionaire developer with a knack for navigating Russian bureaucracy.
Throughout his time in Moscow, Trump showered Putin with public praise, hoping to gain the Russian leader's favor. While Putin didn't attend the pageant due to a scheduling conflict, he did send Trump a gift and a message expressing his desire to meet. This near-miss encounter only fueled Trump's fascination with Putin and his determination to do business in Russia.
The authors paint a picture of Trump as a businessman obsessed with the idea of putting his name on a skyscraper in Moscow. This ambition would later become a significant factor in the investigations into his campaign's ties to Russia.
The Obama Administration and Russia
The book provides important context by examining the Obama administration's approach to Russia. When Obama first took office in 2008, there was hope for a "reset" in U.S.-Russia relations. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton played a key role in this effort, working to improve diplomatic ties with then-President Dmitry Medvedev.
However, the reset was short-lived. When Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 amid allegations of voter fraud, Clinton publicly questioned the legitimacy of the election. This criticism infuriated Putin, who blamed Clinton for instigating anti-corruption protests in Russia.
The relationship between the U.S. and Russia deteriorated further in 2014 when Putin forcibly annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. In response, the U.S. and EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia, dealing a blow to the Russian economy and effectively killing Trump's plans for a Moscow tower.
This shift in U.S.-Russia relations is crucial for understanding Putin's motivations in the 2016 election. The authors argue that Putin viewed Clinton as an enemy and saw Trump as a potential ally who might lift the sanctions and adopt a more Russia-friendly foreign policy.
Russian Hacking and Disinformation Campaigns
As tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalated, Putin turned to a new form of warfare: cyberattacks and social media manipulation. The book details how Russian hackers, working for intelligence agencies, targeted the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and key figures in the Clinton campaign.
In September 2015, the FBI notified the DNC that at least one of their computers had been hacked. The culprit was a group known as APT 28, which had ties to Russian intelligence. The following March, the hackers successfully targeted John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman, gaining access to thousands of emails.
Simultaneously, Russia deployed an army of internet trolls to spread disinformation on social media platforms. These fake accounts promoted pro-Trump and anti-Clinton messages, aiming to sow discord and influence public opinion.
The authors emphasize that this was not just a spontaneous operation but part of a larger, coordinated effort by the Russian government to undermine the U.S. electoral process and help Trump win the presidency.
The Trump Campaign's Russian Connections
One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is its exploration of the numerous connections between Trump campaign officials and Russian operatives. The authors highlight several key figures who raised suspicions due to their ties to Russia:
Paul Manafort: Trump's campaign chairman had a long history of working as a political consultant in Russia and Ukraine. He had close ties to Russian oligarchs and was deeply in debt to one of them, Oleg Deripaska.
Carter Page: A foreign policy advisor to the campaign, Page had extensive business dealings in Russia and had been on the radar of U.S. intelligence agencies for years due to his contacts with Russian officials.
George Papadopoulos: Another foreign policy advisor, Papadopoulos met with a mysterious professor in London who claimed to have dirt on Hillary Clinton from Russian sources.
Donald Trump Jr.: The president's son received an email offering incriminating information on Clinton from the Russian government and eagerly agreed to a meeting to obtain it.
The book details a now-infamous meeting at Trump Tower in June 2016, where Trump Jr., Manafort, and Jared Kushner met with a Russian lawyer who promised damaging information on Clinton. While the meeting apparently didn't yield the promised intel, it demonstrated the campaign's willingness to accept help from a foreign adversary.
Isikoff and Corn argue that these connections, taken together, paint a picture of a campaign that was unusually receptive to Russian overtures and potentially vulnerable to manipulation.
The Steele Dossier
A significant portion of the book is devoted to the controversial Steele dossier, a collection of memos compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. The dossier, which contained salacious and unverified claims about Trump's ties to Russia, became a focal point of the investigations into Russian interference.
The authors trace the origins of the dossier to opposition research commissioned by the DNC and the Clinton campaign. They describe how Steele, alarmed by what he was uncovering, felt compelled to share his findings with the FBI.
The book provides a balanced look at the dossier, acknowledging its unverified nature while also noting that some of its broader claims about Russian interference have been corroborated by U.S. intelligence agencies.
The Steele dossier's explosive allegations, including claims that Russia had compromising material on Trump, added fuel to the growing controversy surrounding the election and the new administration.
The Obama Administration's Response
As evidence of Russian interference mounted, the Obama administration grappled with how to respond. The book details the internal debates and the cautious approach taken by President Obama and his team.
In September 2016, during a G20 summit in China, Obama had a private conversation with Putin, warning him to cease interference in the U.S. election. However, the administration was reluctant to make public statements about Russian meddling, fearing accusations of trying to influence the election outcome.
The authors describe Obama's frustrated attempts to organize a bipartisan response to the Russian threat. When Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, refused to join in a united front, the administration was left to rely on the intelligence community to inform the public.
On October 7, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a statement officially linking recent email hacks to the Russian government. However, this crucial announcement was overshadowed by other breaking news, including the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape featuring Trump making lewd comments about women.
The book suggests that the Obama administration's cautious approach, while well-intentioned, may have inadvertently allowed Russian interference to continue unchecked during a critical period.
The Final Weeks of the Campaign
The last month of the 2016 campaign was a whirlwind of controversies and surprises, and the book captures the frenetic pace of events. The authors detail how the release of hacked emails by WikiLeaks dominated news cycles, keeping Clinton on the defensive.
Just eleven days before the election, FBI Director James Comey announced that the bureau was reopening its investigation into Clinton's emails, a move that many believe significantly damaged her campaign in its final days.
Throughout this period, the Trump campaign continued to dismiss allegations of Russian interference as a hoax, despite having been briefed by the FBI about the threat. The authors argue that this refusal to acknowledge the problem, even in the face of mounting evidence, raised serious questions about the campaign's motivations.
The Election and Its Aftermath
The book vividly describes the shock and disbelief that swept through the Clinton campaign and the Obama administration when Trump emerged victorious on election night. The authors suggest that the full impact of Russian interference was not yet understood at this point, even by those in positions of power.
In the weeks following the election, as more information about Russian meddling came to light, the Obama administration scrambled to preserve intelligence and ensure that the incoming Trump team couldn't bury the investigation.
The book concludes with the early days of the Trump presidency, as questions about Russian interference and potential collusion continued to swirl. The authors describe the growing calls for investigations and the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller to lead the Russia probe.
Key Themes and Insights
Throughout "Russian Roulette," several important themes emerge:
The vulnerability of the U.S. electoral system to foreign interference, particularly through cyberattacks and social media manipulation.
The complex web of connections between Trump associates and Russian officials, which created numerous opportunities for improper influence.
The challenges faced by intelligence agencies and law enforcement in responding to a new kind of threat in real-time.
The role of WikiLeaks and other intermediaries in disseminating hacked information and shaping public opinion.
The tension between national security concerns and political considerations in the government's response to Russian meddling.
The impact of Trump's business ambitions in Russia on his campaign's approach to that country.
The effectiveness of Russia's disinformation campaigns in exploiting existing divisions in American society.
The Authors' Approach
Isikoff and Corn bring their considerable experience as investigative journalists to bear in "Russian Roulette." They piece together a complex narrative from a wide range of sources, including interviews with key players, government documents, and media reports.
The book is written in a engaging, almost novelistic style that makes the complex web of events and relationships accessible to general readers. At the same time, it maintains a commitment to factual accuracy and avoids sensationalism.
The authors are careful to distinguish between established facts and areas of uncertainty or speculation. They present multiple perspectives on controversial issues, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
Criticisms and Controversies
While "Russian Roulette" has been widely praised for its comprehensive approach to a complex topic, it has also faced some criticism:
Some have argued that the book places too much emphasis on the Steele dossier, which remains largely unverified.
Others have suggested that the authors are too quick to accept the intelligence community's assessments of Russian interference at face value.
Supporters of President Trump have accused the book of being biased against him and his administration.
Some critics have argued that the book doesn't go far enough in exploring the potential complicity of Trump campaign officials in Russian interference.
Despite these criticisms, the book has generally been regarded as a valuable contribution to the public's understanding of the 2016 election and its aftermath.
Impact and Relevance
"Russian Roulette" has had a significant impact on the public discourse surrounding Russian interference in the 2016 election. It has helped to contextualize the ongoing investigations and has provided a framework for understanding the complex relationships between various actors.
The book's revelations have been cited in congressional hearings and have informed the work of journalists covering the Russia investigation. Its detailed account of events leading up to the election has become a valuable resource for those seeking to understand this pivotal moment in American political history.
Moreover, the issues raised in "Russian Roulette" continue to be relevant beyond the 2016 election. The book's exploration of vulnerabilities in the U.S. electoral system and the challenges of combating foreign interference in the digital age remain pressing concerns for policymakers and citizens alike.
Conclusion
"Russian Roulette" offers a comprehensive and compelling account of one of the most controversial episodes in recent American political history. By meticulously tracing the threads of Russian interference from Trump's early business dealings in Moscow through the 2016 campaign and into the early days of his presidency, Isikoff and Corn provide invaluable context for understanding this complex and ongoing story.
The book raises important questions about the integrity of the U.S. electoral process, the nature of modern warfare in the digital age, and the challenges of maintaining national security in an interconnected world. It serves as both a gripping political thriller and a sobering wake-up call about the vulnerabilities of democratic institutions to foreign manipulation.
While the full story of Russian interference in the 2016 election is still unfolding, "Russian Roulette" stands as an essential chronicle of what we know so far. It offers readers a chance to step back from the day-to-day headlines and see the bigger picture of how we arrived at this moment in history.
The authors conclude with a note of caution and a call for vigilance. They argue that the events of 2016 were not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing effort by Russia to undermine Western democracies. Understanding what happened in 2016, they suggest, is crucial for protecting the integrity of future elections and preserving the foundations of American democracy.
As investigations continue and new information comes to light, "Russian Roulette" will likely remain an important reference point for anyone seeking to understand this pivotal moment in American political history. Its thorough research, compelling narrative, and balanced approach make it an invaluable resource for citizens, journalists, and policymakers alike.
In the end, "Russian Roulette" is more than just a recounting of past events. It's a warning about the ongoing threats to democratic institutions and a call to action for those who seek to protect them. By shedding light on the complex web of relationships and events that shaped the 2016 election, Isikoff and Corn have provided a roadmap for understanding – and hopefully preventing – similar interference in the future.
As we move forward, the lessons of "Russian Roulette" remain relevant. The book reminds us of the importance of transparency in government, the need for robust cybersecurity measures, and the critical role of a free press in holding power to account. It also underscores the responsibility of citizens to stay informed and engaged in the democratic process.
While the story of Russian interference in American politics is far from over, "Russian Roulette" provides an essential foundation for understanding how we got here and what might come next. It's a crucial read for anyone seeking to make sense of this tumultuous period in American history and its implications for the future of democracy in the digital age.