Hillary Clinton: WikiLeaks is a subsidiary of the Russian intelligence
What's the story
Hillary Clinton still seems bitter about her loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential elections. Clinton has now accused WikiLeaks of working with Russia to deflect attention away from a controversial tape that surfaced during the campaign in which Trump is heard bragging about groping women. She also lashed out at WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Here's more about it.
2016 Elections
Clinton's loss in the 2016 presidential elections
Clinton faced an unexpected defeat against Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential elections. This was preceded by an FBI investigation into her alleged use of her personal email for official business. A leak of the Democratic Party's emails further undermined her credibility. US investigative agencies believe Russia was behind the leaks to "harm Clinton's electability" to help Trump win.
Information
Allegations of sexual misconduct against Trump
Trump was heard bragging about groping women and getting away with it in a 2005 tape which surfaced during the campaign. While he dismissed the comments as "locker-room banter," several women came out afterward with stories accusing Trump of sexual misconduct.
Clinton's statements
Clinton blames WikiLeaks for deflecting public attention from the Trump-tape
In an interview, Clinton referred to WikiLeaks as "a fully-owned subsidiary of Russian intelligence." Clinton highlighted that WikiLeaks made over 2000 e-mails from Clinton campaign public, right after the Trump's tape surfaced. According to her, this was their ploy to deflect attention from the Trump's tape. Clinton further said that the WikiLeaks was "clever" to influence public opinion with a timely revelation.
Details
Assange dislikes her, claims Clinton
Clinton says that WikiLeaks' actions were motivated by its founder Julian Assange's dislike for her. She referred to him as "a kind of nihilistic opportunist who does the bidding of a dictator (read Russian President Vladimir Putin)." "If he's such a martyr of free speech, why doesn't WikiLeaks ever publish damaging or negative information on the Kremlin?" she wondered out loud during the interview.