During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russian intelligence reportedly collected information regarding former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s health, including claims that she experienced “psycho-emotional problems” treated with strong sedatives. Sources suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin ultimately chose not to release this material prior to the election, anticipating a Clinton victory.
A declassified House Intelligence Committee report sheds light on the matter, detailing findings based on interviews with intelligence officers and FBI agents, along with source material from a 2017 report on Russian election interference. The report indicates that Russia’s SVR intelligence service had access to Democratic National Committee communications noting Clinton’s “intensified psycho-emotional problems, including uncontrolled fits of anger, aggression, and cheerfulness.”
The documents also suggest that Clinton was on a daily regimen of heavy tranquilizers. Despite concerns over losing, she reportedly remained focused on maintaining political power. By September 2016, communications highlighted that then-President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders were alarmed by her health, fearing it could negatively impact her chances against Donald Trump. At the time, Clinton, 77, was reportedly managing Type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with her condition closely guarded by her advisers.
The SVR is also said to have obtained emails regarding a Clinton-approved plan to connect Russian President Vladimir Putin and hackers to candidate Trump, aimed at diverting public attention from the Clinton email server controversy.
