Here’s a novel Theory of the Case:

First, John Brennan, communist supporter, said he isn’t communist because he supports free speech. Let that sink in for a moment, free speech is the reason he cites for not supporting Communism. [perhaps that’s the biggest difference between socialism and communism, free speech?].

In any case, communism, as per Brennan, was warranted when he was unhappy with the system and saw a need for change. This is the character of the person that President Obama picked to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. Please let that sink in for a moment as well.

Okay, novel Theory of the Case:

Heading into the 2016 election, Clinton was well aware that her hacked emails posed a threat to her prospects of winning. On July 10, 2015, the FBI “initiated a full investigation based upon a referral received from the US Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG)….” See FBI Records: The Vault, Hillary R. Clinton Part 01 of 31. Thus, HRC, the Intelligence Agencies, Congress, Obama, and the media were well aware that her emails had been hacked. Further, they were well aware that several entities were in possession of said emails.

Prior and during the election, intelligence agencies, American and foreign, monitored for the release of the emails, likely believing they could prevent the release of the emails. And, of course, the media was prepared to run interference, both for the email investigation and their potential release.

Running parallel to this coverup and interference campaign was the monitoring of presidential candidates by intelligence agencies and the sharing of the information with Clinton, Congress, the media, and Obama. [Notably, this has not been analyzed too much from what I have seen. But there must be a paper and/or electronic trail of these communications. If they were not communicating to further Clinton winning, then why spy in the first place?]

Then, at some point, it was realized that the release of the Clinton emails could not be prevented. Further, the DNC and Podesta email releases probably caught them off guard. Thus, the media was unable to adequately run interference as well, and the idea to blame the old nemesis, Russia, for the hacking of the emails was developed.

Next, as Clinton realized she was going to lose, it made sense to combine the two aforementioned operations. As a means of justifying the spying on presidential campaigns, the narrative was developed that intelligence agencies were monitoring a presidential campaign for its complicity in Russia’s hacking and release of Clinton’s emails.

Finally, once Clinton lost, the idea begot to blame it on Russian Collusion, a mere spinoff of Watergate. This would then explain the money allocated in the National Defense Act to financially support media personnel that would prop up the Russia Collusion narrative after the election, paving the way for the special counsel, obstruction of justice, and impeachment.