Stefan Halper, a key FBI informant in the Russia collusion investigation, continued receiving payments and validation from the bureau even after agents discovered he provided inaccurate information about former Trump National Security Advisor Mike Flynn.
According to Just the News, newly declassified FBI documents reveal Halper was paid nearly $1.2 million over three decades and was partly motivated by "monetary compensation" while serving as a confidential source.
The nearly 700 pages of declassified records, recently provided to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, show Halper fabricated claims about Flynn leaving a 2014 Cambridge University event alone with Russian scholar Svetlana Lokhova. FBI agents later determined these allegations were "not plausible" and "not accurate," yet continued vouching for Halper's reliability.
The FBI's Validation Management Unit issued a March 2017 assessment recommending Halper's continued use as an informant, despite knowing his claims about Flynn were false. The unit praised Halper's "authenticity, reliability, and control" without addressing the concerns about his incorrect Flynn-Lokhova story.
During the critical period between August 2016 and February 2017, spanning Trump's campaign and inauguration, Halper received $70,000 in FBI payments. The documents show multiple payment requests submitted by FBI agent Stephen Somma, who described Halper as "integral" to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
Records indicate the FBI paid Halper over $1.18 million dating back to 1991. The Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment separately paid him $1.05 million between 2012 and 2016 for various projects.
Beyond Flynn, Halper also assisted the FBI in targeting other Trump campaign figures, particularly Carter Page. The FBI instructed Halper to get Page to "admit" he was coordinating with Russia on behalf of the Trump team.
Page repeatedly denied the key allegations during recorded conversations with Halper in October 2016. However, these denials were never disclosed to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court when the FBI sought surveillance warrants.
Halper nearly secured a position in the Trump White House through his connection to trade advisor Peter Navarro, who had recommended him for an ambassador role. Navarro later said he felt "duped" after learning of Halper's role in the FBI operation.
The two-year investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller ultimately "did not establish" any criminal Trump-Russia collusion. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report highlighted serious flaws in the FBI's investigation.
Despite spreading false information about Flynn and failing to produce evidence of collusion, Halper maintained his status as a trusted FBI source until October 2020. The FBI's handling of informants like Halper has faced repeated criticism from the Justice Department's watchdog.
Stefan Halper's role as an FBI informant extended well beyond the typical scope of confidential sources. Despite providing demonstrably false information about Michael Flynn, he continued receiving substantial payments and validation from the bureau while targeting multiple Trump campaign officials.
The newly declassified documents reveal the extent of the FBI's reliance on Halper during the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, even after his credibility was questioned. His nearly $1.2 million in payments over three decades and continued use as a source despite spreading false information raise significant questions about the FBI's validation processes and handling of confidential informants during politically sensitive investigations.
