Some in the Obama administration knew of Russian attempts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election in early 2016. “Some” did not include Jeh Johnson, Obama’s hand-picked head of Homeland Security. Interestingly, Johnson recently testified before the House Intelligence Committee that he wasn’t told about it for “some” months.

In August 2016, the Democratic National Committee was hacked. It was later revealed that both the RNC and the DNC were warned. The RNC took preventative action, the DNC did not. But that didn’t stop their complaining and hand-wringing about it.

It wasn’t until Oct. 7 that Johnson and James Clapper, director of National Intelligence, told the public that Russia “intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.”

James Comey met in the White House situation room in June or July of 2016 with then-Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, DHS Secretary Johnson and National Security advisor Susan Rice. Comey wanted to go public via an op-ed about the Russian matter, but the other four blocked the idea (per Newsweek).

Keeping the timeline of early 2016 to Oct. 7, 2016, in mind, when the Obama administration decided its preferences took priority over the public’s right to know, the presidential election took place on Nov. 8. The unexpected victory of Donald Trump started the out-of-control spinning we’ve seen ever since.

With that, a “bombshell” report that was (conveniently) deemed declassified was released Jan. 6.

It’s logical to ask why, over the course of one full year, suspected Russian election meddling was benign enough to keep on the back burner, but just before a new president is to be sworn in, “declassified” intelligence information is released with enhanced inclusion of Russia having a preference for the new guy.

One unidentified source offered: “Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton and harm her electability and potential presidency,” the report stated, adding that the U.S. intelligence community had “high confidence” in its judgments. “We further assess Putin and the Russian government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.”

The operative phrase is “we assess.” Is that real proof to the public?

Like it or not, a good case can be made that the Obama administration kept the information they had about Russia in the closet because they were sure Hillary would prevail, leaving the matter a non-issue.

No one has to be reminded of the dizzying amount of flurry since inauguration day. Certainly there are no signs of the negativity easing up in the foreseen future.

Skipping over much of that, today’s topic is Donald Trump Jr. getting a message from a former business acquaintance in Russia to meet with a Russian attorney purportedly under the guise that the attorney had dirt on Hillary Clinton (which could be used during the campaign).

That attorney is Natalia Veselnitskaya.

Trump haters are expressing shock and awe, while others view it as part of “opposition research.” Whichever opinion is held, intellectual honesty is that it would be nearly impossible to find a politician or any of their circles that wouldn’t act on a tip like that involving the opposing candidate.

Much ado is being made out of Trump Jr.’s response to the email contact. He said, “If it’s what you say, I love it, especially later in the summer.” The entire reply is being perverted into just “I love it,” all to make it sound worse. Either way, what opposition wouldn’t love it?

As it turns out, there was no dirt to be spilled, and a different conversation altogether was had about child adoption between the U.S. and Russia.

Irrespective of the facts, the MSM and the left are fervent with their pursuits that the attorney is a character she is not. The reports have gone from calling her a “Russian attorney” to “Kremlin-connected” to “government attorney with strong ties” and more, all trying to paint she acted on behalf of the Russian government.

Hours ago, we learned then-Attorney General Lynch was the one who authorized a special term entry (not a visa) for Veselnitskaya to be in the U.S. for legal business between October 2016 and January 2017.

Shortly after that news, it was disclosed Veselnitskaya met with various members of Congress and had at least one dinner at the Capitol Hill Club.

Unexplained, she was still in the U.S. six months later to be able to have a meeting at Trump Tower with Donald Trump Jr. and two others. Recalling the amount of media camped out in the lobby of Trump Towers after Nov. 8, it is surprising her presence wasn’t noted.

The hysteria is hypocritical.

As early as March 2017, the Kremlin acknowledged that the Clinton campaign had met with Russian Ambassador Sergio Kislyak.

That topic might be put to rest, but there is a newer one, and that’s the matter of Alexandra Chalupa, a consultant to the Democratic National Committee and a Ukrainian political operative. She was hired to find dirt on a former Trump campaign manager.

Politico has already tried minimizing the DNC efforts with this: “It’s not uncommon for outside operatives to serve as intermediaries between governments and reporters.”

Either the kettle is black like the pot or it’s not.

Betty Arenson is a Valencia resident who believes in the Constitution in its entirety and that laws should be upheld and apply to everyone equally.

Betty Arenson is a Valencia resident who believes in the Constitution in its entirety and that laws should be upheld and apply to everyone equally.