Russiagate, as it was known, was the interefence by russia in the 2016 US election. At putin’s behest a huge social media, hacking and misinformation campaign was carried out covertly in order to spread social discord and ensure trump won the election. An international and US investigation confirms this.
Trump himself denied any involvement and the investigation could only pin it on others not trump himself.
Either way there is no doubt that he benefited.
Could it be that having elected trump previously, putin could dish the dirt at any point he chooses to show trump was up to his orange neck in it and so this is part of the bizarre relationship we now see with trump disdaining long term allies in favour of long term enemies?
I am really surprised not more is made of this in the US now given current events but of course they now live under a regime where open criticism of the president could be dangerous in a variety of ways.