Former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper was reportedly caught lying about leaking the Steele dossier to CNN, according to a House Intelligence Committee report.
James Clapper, who resigned at the end of the Obama administration, reportedly admitted in a July 2017 deposition that he had leaked the dossier to CNN’s Jake Tapper.
The House Intelligence Committee report highlights discrepancies in Clapper's statements regarding his involvement in leaking the Steele dossier to CNN.
Daily Caller reported that Clapper initially denied discussing the dossier or any intelligence related to Russia's hacking of the 2016 election with journalists. However, upon further questioning, he acknowledged discussing the dossier with Tapper.
CNN published Tapper’s story on the Steele dossier on January 10, 2017. The story, which accused presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump of colluding with Russia to win the 2016 election, later turned out to be debunked. Despite this, Tapper received the Merriman Smith Award for broadcast journalism in 2018 for the Steele dossier story.
Tapper has not corrected the record regarding the false allegations of Trump colluding with Russia. The House Intelligence Committee's report raises questions about the integrity of the news story and the subsequent accolades received by Tapper. The report also casts doubt on Clapper's credibility, given his conflicting statements.
Following the publication of the dossier story, Clapper released a statement aligning himself with Trump. He expressed dismay at the leaks and called Tapper’s story damaging to national security. Clapper emphasized that he did not believe the leaks came from within the Intelligence Community.
Clapper's statement appears to attempt to distance himself from the fallout of the dossier's publication. In August 2017, CNN hired Clapper as a national security analyst, further intertwining his relationship with the network. This hiring decision has been scrutinized in light of the recent revelations.
Clapper was also among the 51 former intelligence officials who signed a letter in October 2020 suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop had the earmarks of a Russian information operation.
Some have viewed this action as an attempt to influence public perception during a critical election period. Given Clapper's recent admissions, the credibility of these officials is now under scrutiny.
The Steele dossier story continues to be a point of contention in political and media circles. Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) paid a $113,000 fine for failing to report that the Steele dossier was funded through the Perkins Coie law firm. This fine further implicates key figures in the Democratic Party in the controversy surrounding the dossier.
As the political landscape evolves, the fallout from the Steele dossier and its implications continue to unfold. The House Intelligence Committee's report on Clapper’s actions adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. Questions remain about the integrity of the media and the role of intelligence officials in shaping public perception.
Clapper's conflicting statements and subsequent admissions have sparked debates about accountability and ethics in both intelligence and journalism. The ongoing scrutiny of the Steele dossier and related events underscores the importance of transparency and truth in reporting. As new details emerge, the impact on public trust and political dynamics will be closely watched.
