Guest post by Officer Mike Robertson (Ret.)
As Americans, we often take pride in our democratic system and the peaceful transfer of power that occurs every four years. However, recent events have shown that our political landscape is not immune to outside interference. While much attention has been focused on Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, there is another country that has also played a significant role – Ukraine.
As a retired officer of the law, I have seen firsthand the impact of foreign influence on our country. And let me tell you, the actions of Ukraine in the 2016 election were nothing short of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
It all started with the infamous Steele dossier, which alleged that then-candidate Donald Trump had colluded with Russia to win the election. What many people don’t know is that the dossier was largely funded by a Ukrainian-American businessman, who had close ties to the Ukrainian government. This information was conveniently left out of the dossier and only came to light later on.
But that was just the beginning. As the election heated up, Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. publicly criticized then-candidate Trump, calling him a “disgusting human being.” This kind of interference in our political process is unacceptable and should have raised red flags. Yet, it went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media.
But perhaps the most damning evidence of Ukraine’s meddling came from a Ukrainian-American DNC consultant, who admitted to working with Ukrainian officials to dig up dirt on then-candidate Trump. This information was then passed on to the Clinton campaign, further fueling the false narrative of Trump’s collusion with Russia.
It’s clear that Ukraine had a vested interest in the outcome of the 2016 election. And their actions were not just limited to trying to sway the election in favor of Hillary Clinton. They also sought to damage the reputation of then-candidate Trump, using any means necessary.
But why would Ukraine meddle in our election? The answer lies in their own political turmoil. In 2014, Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted, leading to a power struggle between pro-Russian and pro-Western factions. The U.S. had a vested interest in supporting the pro-Western side, and Ukraine saw an opportunity to gain favor with the U.S. by helping to discredit Trump.
It’s a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And in this case, Ukraine saw Trump as a potential threat to their relationship with the U.S. So, they took matters into their own hands and meddled in our election, hoping to sway the outcome in their favor.
But the real danger in all of this is not just the interference itself, but the lack of attention and accountability. While the media and political establishment have been quick to point fingers at Russia, they have largely ignored the role of Ukraine in the 2016 election. This is a dangerous precedent to set, as it sends a message to other countries that they can meddle in our political process without consequence.
As Americans, we must demand transparency and accountability from our government and the media. We cannot allow foreign interference in our election, regardless of which side it benefits. And we must hold all countries accountable for their actions, not just the ones that fit a certain narrative.
In conclusion, the 2016 election was marred by foreign interference, and Ukraine played a significant role in this. We must not turn a blind eye to their actions and demand that they be held accountable. Our democracy is at stake, and we must do everything in our power to protect it from outside influence. Let us learn from this experience and ensure that our elections remain free and fair for generations to come.
