RT beats internet to break #Podestaemails6 & everybody loses their minds (conspiracy theory warning)
RT breaking the latest Podesta emails before WikiLeaks sparked accusations of collusion with the whistleblowing organization. Actually, no conspiracies were involved – just good journalism.
Having discovered over 1,800 emails date-stamped October 13 on the WikiLeaks site, RT sprung into action.
#BREAKING: #WikiLeaks releases 6th #Podesta#email batch https://t.co/9Hm6p9yKZi#PodestaEmails6pic.twitter.com/iovcSrowIY
— RT America (@RT_America) October 13, 2016
Wikileaks followed shortly after by tweeting that #PodestaEmails6 were now available.
RELEASE: The Podesta Emails Part 6 (almost 2000 new emails) https://t.co/wzxeh7hZLU#HillaryClinton#PodestaEmails#PodestaEmails6pic.twitter.com/HYdHE0DG4C
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 13, 2016
Despite the documents being public when discovered by RT, accusations soon began that it was proof that Russia and WikiLeaks are somehow working together. Christopher Miller, a journalist for the US government-backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, set the wheels of suspicion in motion.
Earlier today, @RT_com tweeted & pubbed a story on fresh @wikileaks Podesta emails dump before WL posted them to the site & tweeted a link. pic.twitter.com/nHb0GIq4Am
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) October 13, 2016
Hillary Clinton’s Press Secretary Brian Fallon then followed suit, tweeting that the work by RT journalists was part of a conspiracy “in service of Trump”.
More evidence of Russian collusion with @Wikileaks in service of Trumphttps://t.co/P2nXQIMKBS
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 13, 2016
WikiLeaks even stepped in to clarify that the emails were available, just not tweeted, and that RT had not acquired them in any other way.
@ChristopherJM@RT_com No they didn't. The release was visible to anyone looking at https://t.co/wzxeh7hZLU well before our first tweet.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 13, 2016
Brian Fallon was contacted by an RT journalist. We offered to explain to him how the team broke the news. He has not responded.
READ MORE: ‘Clintons won't forget what their friends have done’: WikiLeaks release #PodestaEmails6