Seth Hettena and Jeff Stein write:

The last time he ran for president, Donald Trump said he might not tell the FBI if he received dirt on his opponent offered by a foreign source.

“It’s not an interference, they have information — I think I’d take it,” Trump told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in 2019. “If I thought there was something wrong, I’d go maybe to the FBI — if I thought there was something wrong.”

“It’s called oppo research,” he added.

Many called it poetic justice that the Trump campaign documents were hacked and sent to news organizations. As a candidate in 2016, Trump famously welcomed Wikileaks’ publication of Hillary Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee emails stolen by Russia and famously asked Russia to find Clinton’s “missing” emails.

“Buckle up…,” wrote Chris Krebs, the former top U.S. election official whom Trump fired after his agency called the 2020 vote the most secure ever, as news of the hack broke Saturday. “Someone is running the 2016 playbook, expect continued efforts to stoke fires in society and go after election systems.” [Continue reading…]

On the hack of the Trump campaign, I’m taking this seriously & have it on good authority it’s the real deal. You should too.

I tend to not comment much these days for various reasons personal & professional, but this is important, I have a bit of relevant insight & experience,…

— Chris Krebs (@C_C_Krebs) August 11, 2024