I think the important part is this: John Huber can go after former employees of the US government (as per the Breitbart article). So the implication is that there is some mingling of the Podesta group and possible employment by the government. By shuttering its doors in November, they thought they were escaping prosecution by a special council, without ever having considered this alternative. Hence "These people are stupid."
It's more like an arrow usually, like 'leads to' or 'progresses towards.' Sometimes it a greater or less than comparison, but usually it's obvious when that's the case.