So did she start the rumor?
You remember Clintonism well.
Machiavellian would be an understated adjective.
This couple design and direct scandalous accusations against themselves and when evidence is lacking or missing they blame the right wing for starting the original scandalous rumors in order to 'smear' the Clintons.
Hillary the victim will emerge in 2-3 years.
To reiterate, the Clintons perform crimes, say for example a payoff to a foreign bank account from Marc Rich. Someone gets wind of the crime and the Clintons get a report that someone knows things.
They race to announce or have a sycophant announce a 'rumor' of the crime, in our example that Marc Rich has paid the Clintons a bribe. The Clintons and their people focus the press on one of the Clinton stooges who will reveal all. The press and broadcast media get caught up in the newest Clinton scandal. The stooge reveals he is funded by a right wing organization or is in trouble and will cop a plea in return for testimony.
Clintons blame the right wing conspiracy. Hillary is victim and sympathy polls go up. Republicans get demonized.
It's so predictable, it's almost boring.
Cover up crime else discredit witnesses else create witnesses that are later discredited, then blame story on attack by right-wing Republican extremists. Watch polls climb.