Forgive me for my cynicism, but could it be for blog hits for the "Washington Pundit", which I have never heard of? I hope that your conclusion is the correct one.
If they wanted blog hits, they're getting them. I'm seeing links to the NBC story and video all over the place (FR, twitter, Infinity Chan, etc.).
I remember at the time it really hacked off the Russians and was part of their (Russian media) discussion on the Magintsky Act and the blocking of adoptions of Russian children by US persons.
I'd have to do a little dig to see what ever happened to the US diplomat who was trolling for kids in Moscow (that the Beast protected).
With the rash of new Q drops about Hillary and Haiti maybe the old NBC story re-drop about the pedophilia coverup at the state Dept wasn’t just for web hits