John Bolton wonders aloud whether Obama was actually behind the election hacks

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has a theory that it was actually President Obama's administration — not Russia — that hacked the presidential election. In an interview Sunday on Fox News, Bolton, who is reportedly being considered for deputy secretary of state, suggested breaches of the Democratic National Committee as well as other Democratic officials and organizations were part of a "false flag" operation. The term, The Washington Post explains, is "popular among conspiracy theorists" and is "typically used to describe a covert attempt by the government to advance an agenda by making it seem like its activities are being carried out by another entity."
"We just don't know," Bolton said, when asked whether he was accusing Obama's administration or the intelligence community of a cover-up. "But I believe the intelligence community has been politicized in the Obama administration to a very significant degree." Bolton's suggestion followed The Washington Post's report Friday that CIA officials informed senators in a closed-door meeting that there is mounting evidence Russia interfered in the presidential election to help Trump win. Obama has called for an investigation, while Trump has dismissed the claims as "ridiculous."
Bolton said his tip-off to the possibility of a "false flag" was the fact that no evidence of foreign interference was found in the investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server, but evidence was found in the election hacking. "The question that has to be asked is, why did the Russians run their smart intelligence service against Hillary’s server but their dumb intelligence services against the election?" Bolton said, questioning why the Russians would "leave fingerprints" if they "did this."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Catch the rest of Bolton's theory below. Becca Stanek
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Government shutdown avoided as Congress passes temporary funding bill
Speed Read The bill will fund the government through Nov. 17
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Today's political cartoons — September 30, 2023
Saturday's cartoons - Trump's poll numbers, the Hunter Biden investigation, and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 30, 2023
Daily Briefing Government shutdown looms after failed House vote, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at 90, and more
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Dianne Feinstein, history-making Democratic US senator, dies at 90
The Explainer Her colleagues celebrate her legacy as a trailblazer who cleared the path for other women to follow
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Will the cannabis banking bill get the Senate's green light?
Talking Point The SAFER Banking Act is advancing to the US Senate for the first time, clearing a major hurdle for legal cannabis businesses. Does it stand a chance?
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Biden creates White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Speed Read The office will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Rishi Sunak lambasts China after allegations of spy in UK Parliament
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Judge denies Mark Meadows' request to move Georgia case to federal court
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson dies at 75
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Clarence Thomas officially discloses trips from billionaire GOP donor
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Judge schedules Trump federal election plot trial for crowded March 2024
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published