Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Saturday, July 26, 2025

Newly declassified information contradicts Brennan's testimony before Congress on the origins of the now-debunked Russian collusion conspiracy theory. There is a particular focus on the intelligence community assessment commissioned by President Barack Obama in December 2016, which suggested that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election to help Donald Trump.

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Obama ordered the assessment after a prior assessment found no evidence of collusion or influence on the election in Trump's favor. But Obama's White House effectively quashed that finding from seasoned CIA analysts. To create a new version, Brennan handpicked new analysts, who effectively flipped the earlier finding on its head without any credible basis in the record.

The new assessment relied, to a significant degree, on the Steele dossier, a widely discredited report paid for by Hillary Clinton's campaign that contained unfounded allegations about Trump.

In testimony on May 23, 2017, Brennan claimed that the Steele dossier "wasn't part of the corpus of intelligence information that we had. It was not in any way used as a basis for the Intelligence Community Assessment that was done." In short, Brennan dismissed any reliance on the dossier.

Yet in the material now declassified, Brennan is shown not just discussing the dossier but insisting upon its inclusion in the new assessment Obama had requested. Indeed, he expressly overruled the CIA's two most senior Russia experts, who said it "did not meet even the most basic tradecraft standards."

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Seems like Brennan will be the first one offered to spill the beans to stop his neck from getting stretched.

100% guilty of lying to Congress and I don't think he is getting a free pass on this. It is all a part of a treasonous conspiracy and he will likely flip to save himself. I think the crackhead, closeted, Kenyan is finalizing his plans to run back to his birthplace.

This may be the greatest gift coming out of the Trump election - the final crushing of the Deep State and exposing of Obama.

#1 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-26 07:15 PM | Reply

LMFAO sorry not sorry

#2 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-07-26 07:20 PM | Reply

"#2 | Posted by LauraMohr"

So no actual comment related to the article I see. Standard liberal response when your ------- party is caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

#3 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-26 07:43 PM | Reply

'... the now-debunked Russian collusion conspiracy theory'

Lying for Trump is still lying. Gabbert's premise isn't one that Obama or anyone else supported.

But then, Trumpers were never too bright to begin with.

"Nothing in her document even shows that Obama tried to put his finger on the scale on either the information leak conclusion or the election infrastructure' conclusion," University of Missouri law professor Frank O. Bowman III said.

"And even if he had, that would not be a coup.' Or indeed a crime of any kind."

Gabbard twisted Obama-era officials' statements to spin a dubious narrative that conflicts with multiple reviews that found evidence of Russian interference.

In a statement to PolitiFact, Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said, "Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.

These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio," who is now Trump's secretary of state."

;;

"Gabbard's summary "hits on an issue that was not ultimately the focus of those analyses," said Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer in Washington, D.C. "No one has ever concluded the Russians flipped actual votes, and for good reason: There is no evidence of that."

Trump's statements ignore that government investigations found that Russia interfered with the election, including Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

The committee's 2020 nearly 1,000-page report concluded that "the Russian government engaged in an aggressive, multi-faceted effort to influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election."

""
"Trump distorted a review from Gabbard that does not support his point. Gabbard pointed to a decision in December 2016 to hold off on giving Obama a daily intelligence brief that Russian actors did not influence election results via cyberattacks.

The records show Obama then sought assessment by the intelligence community about Russian interference in the 2016 election, with a look backward and ahead into Russia's capabilities.

But that assessment after the election did not conclude that Russia flipped votes, and intelligence experts said there was nothing unusual or nefarious about Obama's request.

In 2016 and early 2017, Obama acknowledged that his party lost the election and facilitated the transition to Trump's presidency.

We rate this statement Pants on Fire!"

www.poynter.org

aka PolitiFact

Of course, Trumpers are Cultists and willing fools for him, but even they should be able to see through this OBVIOUS DISTRACTION attempt to get PedoGate offa the news.

Perhaps when Trump PARDONS A CONVICTED PEDO PIMP his Base will finally figure this out.... NAW!

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-26 07:53 PM | Reply

Johnathan turley is a sad pathetic has been. He's a right winged stooge at this point. Sad to say but it's the truth.

#5 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-07-26 08:12 PM | Reply

"#4 | Posted by Corky"

They have Brennan dead to rights lying to congress. The next step is to call him up again now and have him repeated what he stated - OR - have the FBI investigate him and see if he repeats the same lies which is a perjury trap. He knows his ass is in a sling and I doubt he will be Obama's fall guy - he will flip.

We all know the intel assessment flipped overnight - Brennan's testimony will remove all doubt as to why that happened. Then the neck stretching can begin.

#6 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-26 08:14 PM | Reply

Like I said, liars... and not very bright liars, either.

#7 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-26 08:24 PM | Reply

"#7 | Posted by Corky"

Yep - not very bright. Then again, if they were smart, they would not have hooked their wagon to Obama in the first place. Even a ------- like yourself wanted Hillary because you knew Obama was a corrupt bum. They should have listened to you.

But, to solve a debate from a thread the other day:

Do you believe there is a Trump hooker pee tape?

Now, people like Alexandrite think that no one would be so ------- stupid as to believe this tape exists at this point. However, I think he is wrong and that you - in fact - are that ------- stupid.

So, can you please settle this debate? Is there a Trump hooker pee tape?

#8 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-26 08:40 PM | Reply

Now, people like Alexandrite think that no one would be so ------- stupid as to believe this tape exists at this point.

Quote me.

Why do the right wingers here lie so damn much?

#9 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-07-26 08:47 PM | Reply

"#9 | Posted by Alexandrite"

Sorry, did I mis-quote you? You, in fact, think there are still Democrats on this website so ------- stupid that they believe a Trump hooker pee tape exists? I guess I must have mis-read your comments. In that case, I guess we are in agreement - we both agree that there are ------- stupid Democrats on this website that believes the tape exist...Corky being one of them.

#10 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-26 09:04 PM | Reply

Why do the right wingers here lie so damn much?

The lies come in a daily email from the hive.

#11 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-26 09:04 PM | Reply

#9

Their Cult Leader is prolly the Greatest Liar in the History of the World.... and look where it got him in the Republican Oligarchy Party; Liar in Chief; the Lyin' King.

#12 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-26 09:05 PM | Reply

"now-debunked Russian collusion conspiracy theory."

Is this the same Russian collusion conspiracy that Senator Rubio couldn't find, and if so, why does it need more debunking?

#13 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-26 09:10 PM | Reply

Sorry, did I mis-quote you? You, in fact, think there are still Democrats on this website so ------- stupid that they believe a Trump hooker pee tape exists? I guess I must have mis-read your comments. In that case, I guess we are in agreement - we both agree that there are ------- stupid Democrats on this website that believes the tape exist...Corky being one of them.

#10 | Posted by Pedo Lover ScottS

Wait...do you think the Russian stuff is just the Hooker Pee Tape?

Is that the entire Russian conspiracy to you?

No Russian Pee Tape means Russia didn't help Trump win?

Damn...Ped Lovers really are that stupid, aren't they?

#14 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-07-26 10:39 PM | Reply

"Wait...do you think the Russian stuff is just the Hooker Pee Tape?
#14 | Posted by Sycophant"

The hooker pee tape is the "------- touchstone" - if you still buy into that, you have already proven yourself to be so ------- stupid that you are not worth engaging with.

So, do you now, or at any time on the past, believe that the hooker pee tape existed?

Once you answer that, I will then address the request of your comment.

#15 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-26 10:44 PM | Reply

" think there are still Democrats on this website so ------- stupid that they believe a Trump hooker pee tape exists?"

Whether it does or not is moot.

The larger question is, does Trump behave like Putin has something on him?

From Helsinki on, the answer seems yes.

What's your take?

#16 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-26 11:41 PM | Reply

The larger question is, does Trump behave like Putin has something on him?

For whatever reason, Lewzer is obviously scared -------- of Putin.

#17 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-26 11:46 PM | Reply

"What's your take?
#16 | Posted by Danforth"

My take is that YES - you are that ------- stupid.

Now, answer the question: Do you now, or at any time in the past, believe the Trump hooker pee tape existed?

#18 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 12:03 AM | Reply

" Now, answer the question"

Your question is stupid and meaningless.

My question cuts to the heart of the issue.

Why are you afraid of answering the central question?

#19 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:06 AM | Reply

"Your question is stupid and meaningless.
#19 | Posted by Danforth"

My question is embarrassing for your to answer because you will expose you as ------- stupid - but you have already done that multiple times so it should no longer be a concern to you. So, what else do you have to fear in answering it?

#20 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 12:21 AM | Reply

" My question is embarrassing for your (sic) to answer"

Not at all. I've never bought into the pee tape, but I've always bought into the laundering money leverage.

Okay ... I've answered.

Your turn.

#21 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:27 AM | Reply

" My question is embarrassing for your to answer because you will expose you as ------- stupid"

What a riot.

You might want to double-check your post for errors if you're insulting someone else's intelligence.

#22 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:29 AM | Reply

"'ve never bought into the pee tape"

So then, you will admit the Democrats that did buy into it are/were ------- stupid?

"Your turn
#21 | Posted by Danforth"

I don't know what question you are asking me to answer.

#23 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 12:41 AM | Reply

" I don't know what question you are asking me to answer."

Try rereading my posts above until it comes to you. It's quite clear, if your native language is English.

But I'll boil it down: What's your take on why, ever since Helsinki, it's obvious Putin has something on Trump?

You can't look at the footage of the press conference without noticing.

#24 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:47 AM | Reply

"why, ever since Helsinki, it's obvious Putin has something on Trump?
#24 | Posted by Danforth"

It is not obvious and is directly contradicted by Trump's sanctions, cratering the price of oil to hurt Russia, attacking Iran directly (against Russia's wishes), and direct aid to Ukraine. So, if you want to ask a question, don't start with a flawed premise.

Trump's actions have been consistent with that of a world leader not seeking to start WW3 and acknowledging it is cheaper and easier to negotiate with Russia than to make them a global outcast and sparking war.

#25 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 12:57 AM | Reply

Grok has spoken.

LOL.

#26 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-27 01:09 AM | Reply

Can I say GrokPuppet? Sure I can.

#27 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-27 01:18 AM | Reply

" It is not obvious"

Trump's reaction isn't obvious when they come out of the meeting?!?

Watch it again. You're either gaslighting, or you're clueless.

#28 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 01:23 AM | Reply

" So, if you want to ask a question, don't start with a flawed premise."

What a riot.

I'm basing it on an easy observation. You're just afraid of addressing the truth.

#29 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 01:25 AM | Reply

"Johnathan turley is a sad pathetic has been. He's a right winged stooge at this point. Sad to say but it's the truth.

#5 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-07-26 08:12 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)"

He's no different than any of other legal analysts and accomplished journalists who were highly skeptical of W Bush, Clinton (to some extent), the intel community, FBI, etc....

He stayed true to his legal and Constitutional analyses. That is a mortal sin on the left.

A week ago Tulsi Gabbard unleashed a bit of an Obama-scandal bomb? MSNBC's response? Have an Obama-era mouthpiece (Psaki), now working for MSNBC, interview Obama's 'Director of the Central Intelligence Agency' about Gabbard's documents release and act like it was real journalism. So fricking embarrassing. They both worked together in the Obama White House at the same time. Do you people actually take this seriously? You correctly make fun of Fox News but this crap is actually more absurd.

#30 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-07-27 01:27 AM | Reply

" You correctly make fun of Fox News but this crap is actually more absurd."

I have 787,000,000 reasons why you're wrong.

#31 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 01:30 AM | Reply

"I'm basing it on an easy observation.
#29 | Posted by Danforth"

You are using your OPINION as the premise of your question. Your premise should be an actual fact if you want an actual answer.

#32 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 01:32 AM | Reply

" A week ago Tulsi Gabbard unleashed a bit of an Obama-scandal bomb"

Only for the morons and the brain-dead. Which are you?

Those with room temp IQs or higher can see this is a nothingburger inside a nothingburger. The Rubio Report wasn't negated, or even referenced, a clear admission it can't be refuted.

#33 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 01:34 AM | Reply

" You are using your OPINION "

WATCH THE VIDEO.

If it's not your opinion after watching the video, you're a hopeless moron.

If you want to be taken seriously, have the nads to admit when something is this painfully obvious.

#34 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 01:38 AM | Reply

A week ago Tulsi Gabbard unleashed a bit of an Obama-scandal bomb?

I used to think you're just an idiot.

Now I know you deserve none of that benefit of the doubt and can simply say you're a dishonest piece of s(*&.

#35 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-27 01:39 AM | Reply

Only for the morons and the brain-dead. Which are you?

Neither.

Gutes Geutsch is a go along to get along spineless s(*&bag.

He has no character, morals, convictions ect.

As such, don't expect an accurate answer to your question.

#36 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-27 01:41 AM | Reply

slate.com

For Jeff.

#37 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-07-27 01:45 AM | Reply

"#34 | Posted by Danforth"

If you watch a single video and come away with the 100% confidence opinion that Putin has control over Trump, you need mental help - especially as that opinion requires you to ignore all the counterpoints to Putin controlling Trump as I detailed above.

Hey...you don't happen to be Brennan, are you? He seems possible of exactly those mental gymnastics.

#38 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 02:10 AM | Reply

#38

Oh ffs, just admit you're afraid to re-watch the video and leave it at that.

You're the poster child for YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.

#39 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 02:22 AM | Reply

" you don't happen to be Brennan, are you?"

You're the moron who predicted Brennan, Comey, and Clapper would all be frog-marched by Durham before the November 2020 elections, which would sweep Trump to re-election with 20%-no 25%!-of the black vote.

How did those predictions work out for you? Ever get all that egg off your face? Was that the reason you changed your handle, again?

This manure is Durham 2.0.

#40 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 02:28 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"#40 | Posted by Danforth"

We will see. I have a feeling the gloves are off not after the lawfare they did against Trump. Just need 1 to flip - maybe it will be Brennan, maybe it will be Comey. At least 1 will flip and then your whole world view comes crashing down.

#41 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-07-27 03:39 AM | Reply

MAGAts really do love them some boolsheet.
A cult loaded with terrified morons ordered about by oligarchs.

#42 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-07-27 06:40 AM | Reply

This idiocy again? It was summarily dismissed when Gabbard rolled it out. So obvious a deflection and comprised of nonsense.

Scotts, you really are a dumbass. To your core.

God! How frikken stupid and moronic!

Nothing has changed since Rubio's report came out. Nothing. The same conclusions made then are the same ones that are the valid ones today.

Having a Russian asset appointed to Trump's cabinet who then spins the facts into a fanciful tale to appease Hair Fuhrer and Putin doesn't change the truth.

At least 1 will flip and then your whole world view comes crashing down.

LMAO! His entire "whole world view" will come crashing down, will it? Oh dear god! No!
LMAO!

#43 | Posted by YAV at 2025-07-27 08:16 AM | Reply

"A week ago Tulsi Gabbard unleashed a bit of an Obama-scandal bomb?"

It's kinda sad you're still unable to accept Obama ran a scandal free operation.

#44 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-27 09:33 AM | Reply

It's kinda sad you're still unable to accept Obama ran a scandal free operation.
#44 | Posted by snoofy

It's kinda sad facts can't change your programming.

#45 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-07-27 09:35 AM | Reply

It's an Opinion Piece...pfft.

#46 | Posted by Wardog at 2025-07-27 10:28 AM | Reply

Mueller report anyone? Some of the biggest left wing partisans in the planet with almost 2 years and a massive budget and it didn't produce squat to advance the lies perpetrated by the Obama administration. You all are like drug addicts when it comes to this hoax. You can't give it up.

#47 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-07-27 10:45 AM | Reply

The Steele Dossier was central to all of this.

#48 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-07-27 11:22 AM | Reply

Even Rubio concedes that the------------------- is Putin's bitch.

#49 | Posted by Reinheitsgebot at 2025-07-27 11:28 AM | Reply

" The Steele Dossier was central to all of this."

The investigation of Trump began BEFORE The Steele Dossier was uncovered.

" Mueller report anyone?"

You either didn't read it, or didn't understand it. You're misrepresenting it worse than Bill Barr did.

It looks like you're carrying water, again.

#50 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 11:29 AM | Reply

" after the lawfare they did against Trump."

What a riot.

You can't point to a single indictment of Trump which you or I could do without fear of legal repercussions.

That's not LAWFARE, that's LAW.

You're whining that the guy you support is a crook.

#51 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 11:34 AM | Reply

It looks like you're carrying water, again.

It's just important to stay on top on the news. Right now, the biggest story is the Epstein files coverup Steel dossier. Or possibly Epstein files coverup Hillary's emails. Inevitably the big story will be Epstein files coverup Hunter's laptop. And that not even considering Epstein files coverup Joe Biden is old.

#52 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-27 11:39 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

i will talk about every conspiracy theory i can imagine in order to deflect attention from pedophile Trump raping underage girls.
POSTED BY BULLBRINGER

Yea.

We get it.

You're a deplorable Trumping MAGAT with zero morals or ethics.

#53 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-07-27 11:50 AM | Reply

" Just need 1 to flip - maybe it will be Brennan, maybe it will be Comey. At least 1 will flip and then your whole world view comes crashing down."

You made basically the same claim six years ago.

You looked foolish during Durham 1.0, and six years later, have learned nothing.

Durham 2.0 won't even have a meaningless sideline conviction for show, like the first round.

#54 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 11:52 AM | Reply

" The investigation of Trump began BEFORE The Steele Dossier was uncovered"

The ICA's stated that there wasn't enough to continue moving forward which is why the Steele Dossier was incorporated. Are you saying the Steele Dossier wasn't used at all? Are you saying it had and still has any kind of validity?

#55 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-07-27 12:02 PM | Reply

" The ICA's stated that there wasn't enough to continue moving forward which is why the Steele Dossier was incorporated."

Link to that specific statement, please.

" Are you saying the Steele Dossier wasn't used at all?"

No, I'm pointing out any suggestion it was the original impetus for investigating the Trump campaign is a bald-faced lie.

#56 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:08 PM | Reply

---- off Jeff, you mewling ----.

#57 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-27 12:11 PM | Reply

" I'm pointing out any suggestion it was the original impetus for investigating the Trump campaign is a bald-faced lie.

#56 | POSTED BY DANFORTH AT 2025-07-27 12:08 PM | REPLY"

I didn't say it was the impetus. I said it was central. Which it was. The investigation would have been halted for lack of intel without the inclusion of the dossier.

#58 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-07-27 12:22 PM | Reply

The Steele Dossier: A Retrospective (2018)
www.lawfaremedia.org

... Not all of the material in the dossier has been proven. But none has been disproven. As a raw intelligence document, the Steele dossier holds up well. ...

The dossier compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele remains a subject of fascination"or, depending on your perspective, scorn. ...

The dossier is actually a series of reports"16 in all"that total 35 pages. Written in 2016, the dossier is a collection of raw intelligence. Steele neither evaluated nor synthesized the intelligence. He neither made nor rendered bottom-line judgments. The dossier is, quite simply and by design, raw reporting, not a finished intelligence product.

In that sense, the dossier is similar to an FBI 302 form or a DEA 6 form. Both of those forms are used by special agents of the FBI and DEA, respectively, to record what they are told by witnesses during investigations. The substance of these memoranda can be true or false, but the recording of information is (or should be) accurate. In that sense, notes taken by a special agent have much in common with the notes that a journalist might take while covering a story"the substance of those notes could be true or false, depending on what the source tells the journalist, but the transcription should be accurate.

With that in mind, we thought it would be worthwhile to look back at the dossier and to assess, to the extent possible, how the substance of Steele's reporting holds up over time. In this effort, we considered only information in the public domain from trustworthy and official government sources, including documents released by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office in connection with the criminal cases brought against Paul Manafort, the 12 Russian intelligence officers, the Internet Research Agency trolling operation and associated entities, Michael Cohen, Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos.

We also considered the draft statement of offense released by author Jerome Corsi, a memorandum released by House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Adam Schiff related to the Carter Page FISA applications and admissions directly from certain speakers.

These materials buttress some of Steele's reporting, both specifically and thematically. The dossier holds up well over time, and none of it, to our knowledge, has been disproven. ...



#59 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-27 12:29 PM | Reply

" I said it was central."

Then you're still full of bullschittt.

The central reason was Team Trump kept lying about contacts with Russia, while the FBI was seeing meeting after meeting with Russians they were surveilling.

You know, the type of thing that would explode your head if the letters after the name were reversed.

And the idea Obama was SPYING on the campaign?!? FFS, Jeff Sessions walked into the (surveilled) Russian's office, and the FBI kept recording.

Turncoats believe that's when the FBI should've STOPPED recording.

#60 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:30 PM | Reply

" The investigation would have been halted for lack of intel without the inclusion of the dossier."

Nonsense.

Every time Team Trump lied about contacts with Russians, it added new impetus.

To the larger point: why are you OK with team Trump lying about over 100 contacts with Russians?

#61 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-27 12:32 PM | Reply

How the anti-Trump dossier came to be (2017)
www.pbs.org

... The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative site based in Washington, D.C., confirmed that it hired the firm Fusion GPS to unearth damaging information about President Donald Trump in the run-up to the election. GOP donor and billionaire Paul Singer is one of the site's key backers. ...

The secret funder of a once secret dossier of opposition research on Donald Trump has been unmasked. The dossier, produced during last year's presidential campaign, purported to document possible connections between Russians and Trump Organization business or the Trump campaign.

The Washington firm Fusion GPS had been hired to produce the dossier during the Republican primary season, and it eventually assigned the task to a British former intelligence officer named Christopher Steele. That's all been known for months.

Now, we know who originally hired Fusion GPS. The chairman and the editor of the conservative website Washington Free Beacon confirm they did so for information on "multiple Republican candidates." ...


#62 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-27 12:43 PM | Reply

The Russia probe: A timeline from Moscow to Mueller (2019)
abcnews.go.com

... This timeline is based on publicly-released FBI documents, congressional records and testimony, court filings, and certain media reports confirmed to ABC News by sources with knowledge of the matter. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

Four key takeaways:

-- In the months before the 2016 presidential election, the FBI was uncovering efforts by the Russian government to interfere in the election, and the FBI was trying to assess unverified allegations that Trump's associates were aiding the Russian effort.

-- The FBI's counterintelligence probe was not launched because of the "dossier," but the "dossier" aided the investigation and offered unconfirmed tips for agents to explore.

-- Looking to share the work of a longtime acquaintance, senior Justice Department official Bruce Ohr passed on "dossier"-linked information to the FBI. But the first recorded meeting between Ohr and the FBI came four months after the FBI launched its investigation and a full month after the FBI used previously-obtained information from the "dossier" to support secret surveillance of Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

-- Russian interference in the 2016 election was "sweeping and systematic fashion," Robert Mueller said in his report, a fact that was evidenced by the indictment last year of the whole Russian troll farm behind much of the social media interference, known as the Internet Research Agency. ...


#63 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-27 12:49 PM | Reply

So, can you please settle this debate? Is there a Trump hooker pee tape?

#8 | Posted by ScottS

Given everything that's happened verifiably in the last 10 years, I can't imagine why it or anything related to it matters anymore.

Are you inferring the US executive branch or its minions does crappy things sometimes? Color me shocked. I'm wearing a T shirt with Oscar Romero's image on it.

en.wikipedia.org

Trump would have been happy to see this kind of violence, I'm just guessing.

#64 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2025-07-27 12:58 PM | Reply

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