Des Moines Sun

A recent poll indicates that 69% of voters want accountability following disclosures by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) regarding the FBI's handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and alleged ties between Donald Trump and Russia.

At Grassley's request, the Department of Justice and Intelligence Community declassified two documents. The first, known as the Clinton Annex, details the FBI’s incomplete investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server and her handling of classified information while Secretary of State. The second, called the Durham Annex, reveals that the FBI had intelligence suggesting Clinton and her campaign advisors worked to create a narrative linking Trump to Russia in order to distract from her own missing emails. According to these documents, the FBI did not fully investigate this evidence and instead relied on the Steele Dossier to investigate Trump.

Media coverage has varied. Miranda Devine wrote in the New York Post that despite efforts by some media outlets to dismiss these revelations as “Russian disinformation,” public interest remains high: "Despite the best efforts of Russiagate-complicit media to dismiss as 'Russian disinformation' the latest revelations in this escalating scandal implicating President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the treasonous 'years-long coup' against President Trump, the public is paying attention and wants heads to roll."

A Rasmussen poll conducted July 29-31 among 1,172 likely voters found that nearly two-thirds are following recent declassified releases by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Grassley either "very closely" or "somewhat closely." Of those polled, 54% believe officials from the Obama administration committed serious crimes related to manipulating intelligence; 37% said it was "very likely," while 17% said it was "somewhat likely." Additionally, 69% agreed that holding those responsible accountable is critical “for the survival of our country.”

Interest crosses party lines. The poll shows that 56% of Democrats are following developments in these investigations; 32% believe serious crimes were committed; and 59% agree on accountability for perpetrators. Among Republicans, those numbers are higher at 75%, 83%, and 86%, respectively.

Devine also noted disparities in media coverage: according to Gabbard’s office, major networks devoted extensive time—2,284 minutes—to covering Russiagate but only about two minutes recently on new disclosures.

Former CIA Director John Brennan, former DNI James Clapper, and attorney Marc Elias have appeared on various media platforms responding to these developments. Elias stated on MSNBC: “I am imploring, like honestly, I’m just imploring the media, do not report this as a legitimate investigation... Report this as the misuse, the abuse, the authoritarian takeover of the Department of Justice. That should be the headline.”

The ongoing disclosures continue to generate debate about past investigations and current calls for accountability.