On Thursday, October 17th 2019, former Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, made a comment on a podcast about a current Democrat that is running for president. The comment seems to be targeted towards Tulsi Gabbard. 

While speaking on the podcast with former Obama advisor David Plouffe, Hillary Clinton made a statement saying the Russians are currently ‘grooming’ a Democrat that is running in the presidential primary to run as a third-party candidate and gain their interest. 

“I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate,” Clinton stated. 

She added that “She’s the favorite of the Russians.”

Hillary Clinton never specifically said who the candidate is, but there are only five women running in the Democratic party, and none of the other women (besides Gabbard) have been accused of being associated with Russia. 

Tulsi Gabbard’s most controversial position that was most in line with Russian interests is on Syria. Gabbard accused the U.S of pushing a certain policy regarding “regime change” wars. In January 2017, Gabbard met with Syrien President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria, on what Gabbard called a “fact-finding mission.”

“They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far,” Clinton continues to say in the podcast. 

There is no evidence from Clinton or her team that proves these claims are true; although they did point to allegations that Russian news and propaganda sites are constantly concerned with Gabbard and updating their reports on her campaign. This is where the “bots” come in, according to Clinton. 

Tulsi Gabbard made sure to shut down the rumors. She responded by tweeting out, “Thank you @HillaryClinton. You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain.” 

Gabbard added to the tweet that the primary is between her and Clinton, and that Clinton should stop hiding behind her proxies and join the race directly.

Instead of Clinton responding back, her spokesman, Nick Merrill, did.  “Divisive language filled with vitriol and conspiracy theories? Can’t imagine a better proof point than this,” Merril stated. When asked if the comment made by Clinton was about Gabbard, Merrill responded by  referencing Russian Matryoshka dolls and saying “If the nesting doll fits.”