Russia could be nothing more than a scapegoat & cooperator in domestic plots. Imagine if the CIA wanted to manipulate domestic politics. They might use foreigners as a proxy to prevent being implicated for something outside their supposed mission.

I'm not saying that I believe that any more than the media narrative, or have any insight into unseen forces at play, but there is also reason for skepticism. Noam Chomsky as one example has said he thinks the hubbub about Russian interference is a farce. Disinformation and influence operations are real and powerful tools.