The Enduring Specter of 'Russiagate': Matt Taibbi on the Justice Department's Latest Allegations

Investigative journalist Matt Taibbi questions the validity of the Justice Department's accusations of Russian interference in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, highlighting parallels to past allegations that have been proven false or exaggerated.

Investigative journalist Matt Taibbi has expressed skepticism about the Justice Department's latest allegations that Russia is attempting to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Taibbi, appearing on "The Story" on Thursday, compared the ongoing "Russiagate" narrative to the relentless pursuit of Jason Voorhees in the "Friday the 13th" horror film franchise.

"This story just won't go away," Taibbi said. "It reminds me of the 'Friday the 13th' movies. No matter how many times they killed Jason, he keeps leaping out of Crystal Lake in each sequel. And this is the same thing."

The Enduring Specter of 'Russiagate': Matt Taibbi on the Justice Department's Latest Allegations

Taibbi questioned the specific nature of the alleged interference, noting that Attorney General Merrick Garland's statement at a press conference did not align with the sensationalized claims made by commentators.

"He said that what this content was supporting was consistent with Russia's interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions. That's not the same as saying that they were trying to promote Donald Trump," Taibbi said. "And when you get down into the nitty-gritty of this story, it's very confusing, actually, as to what really happened and who was supporting whom."

The Enduring Specter of 'Russiagate': Matt Taibbi on the Justice Department's Latest Allegations

The Justice Department has seized 32 websites it claims are linked to the Russian government and used to spread disinformation. RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet, and two of its employees have been indicted in a $10 million scheme to influence American voters through Tennessee-based Tenet Media.

Taibbi expressed concern that the latest allegations resemble previous instances of unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims of Russian interference. He cited the example of the "Hamilton 68" site and the Steele dossier, both of which were later discredited.

The Enduring Specter of 'Russiagate': Matt Taibbi on the Justice Department's Latest Allegations

"We've seen so many iterations of this same theme, and every time it turns out to be less than meets the eye or a hoax," Taibbi said.

Republicans have expressed skepticism about the Justice Department's move, given parallels to the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, which failed to produce substantial evidence.

"The utility of this story as a propaganda vehicle is entirely...aimed at Donald Trump squarely," Taibbi said. "This story would not be in the news. You wouldn't have every network covering it. You wouldn't have Joe Scarborough doing rants about it if it didn't have a Donald Trump angle to it."

The FBI Director, Christopher Wray, warned adversaries against attempting to interfere in US elections, stating that "as long as adversaries keep trying to influence and interfere in our society, and our democratic processes, they're going to keep running into the FBI."

Despite the Justice Department's assurances, many experts and lawmakers remain cautious, emphasizing the need for careful examination of the evidence and avoiding the pitfalls of past false allegations.