They were merely tools.
This goes all the way up to the tippy top and beyond across the sea.
Just my two cents...
I agree entirely, and this includes ill-informed ‘know-it-alls’ in academics as well as in political positions and government agencies. The not-so-smart ‘intelligentsia’ and ‘elite’ on both sides of the sea are a danger.
I know you were also referring to the previous administration in the White House as those at the ‘tippy top’, but our former President is also a member of that pseudo-intelligentsia who are vastly arrogant, self-convinced, dogmatically ideological, and thus feel justified in trampling the rights of others (particularly those who don't share their worldview).
This goes all the way up to the tippy top and beyond across the sea.
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The involvement/participation by some of our “allies” in this plot needs to be exposed. It certainly appears that some elements within their intelligence services participated in this clear abuse of power and attempt to undermine our government.
If our republic is to survive in its current form we need to know every domestic and foreign actor who was part of this expansive plot.