So they leaked to guarantee that they would not be blamed for a quagmire or be punished at budget time--and to ensure that Clinton would suffer.
They spent 3 weeks compiling the leak against Clinton.
mnli hypothesis: They spent 3 weeks compiling the leak against Clinton. premise: So they leaked to guarantee that they would not be blamed for a quagmire or be punished at budget time--and to ensure that Clinton would suffer.