The part that was wholly unexpected was that the leadership of a political party would embrace rather than reject illegal foreign intervention when they had the chance. And for those that think GOP leadership didn't know about it, there was leaked audio that certainly suggests Paul Ryan was aware:
> “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.
> Some of the lawmakers laughed at McCarthy’s comment. Then McCarthy quickly added: “Swear to God.”
> Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: “No leaks. . . . This is how we know we’re a real family here.”
> “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.
> Some of the lawmakers laughed at McCarthy’s comment. Then McCarthy quickly added: “Swear to God.”
> Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: “No leaks. . . . This is how we know we’re a real family here.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/house...