September 17, 2024 - 3:00pm

Americans should be charged for amplifying Russian disinformation in support of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton claimed during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow yesterday.

Russian propaganda efforts, the former presidential candidate warned, have only become more advanced since 2016, and continue to pose a threat in US elections. In response, the US Government needs to prosecute Americans who spread Russian disinformation, she argued.

“It’s important to indict the Russians, just as [Robert] Mueller indicted a lot of Russians who were engaged in direct election interference and boosting Trump back in 2016,” the former presidential candidate said. “But I also think there are Americans who are engaged in this kind of propaganda, and whether they should be civilly, or even in some cases criminally charged is something that would be a better deterrence, because the Russians are unlikely, except in a very few cases, to ever stand trial in the United States.”

Right-wing influencers including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson were allegedly duped into working for a company which was in fact an arm of the Kremlin, according to a Department of Justice indictment against the Russian actors last week. Russia’s goal was allegedly to amplify US divisions over the war in Ukraine.

Clinton has long blamed Russian interference for her loss in the 2016 presidential election. She credited the DOJ for investigations into Russian propaganda efforts in the US, but argued that “we are just at the beginning of uncovering everything that Russia — but not just Russia, other countries — have done and are doing to influence our election [sic].”

She added: “I think we need to uncover all of the connections and make it very clear that you could vote however you want, but we are not going to let adversaries, whether it is Russia, China, Iran or anybody else, basically try to influence Americans as to how we should vote in picking our leaders.”

Clinton also complained about the media’s handling of Donald Trump, arguing that truly “objective” coverage would emphasise Project 2025 and Trump’s “desire to be a dictator”. Outlets “careen from one outrage to the next. What was outrageous three days ago is no longer on the front pages, even though it threatens the physical safety of so many people,” she said. “I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for the press to have a consistent narrative about how dangerous Trump is.”


is UnHerd’s US correspondent.

laureldugg