Smoking Gun Email Links Hillary Clinton Directly
Clinton Allegedly Approved Russia Narrative, Declassified Report Shows
A newly declassified appendix to Special Counsel John Durham’s 2023 report suggests that Hillary Clinton approved a plan in 2016 to tie Donald Trump to Russian hackers—then denied any involvement to the FBI.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley released the annex Thursday. It supports claims that the FBI acted improperly when it launched the Trump-Russia investigation during the 2016 election, according to The Federalist.
Russian Intel and Leaked Emails
The annex includes two Russian intelligence memos and internal Clinton campaign emails. One memo, dated July 25, 2016, shows Leonard Benardo of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations allegedly wrote that the Russia hacking narrative was valuable and that “politicization is on the table.” He added, “Now it is good for a post-convention bounce… Later the FBI will put more oil into the fire.”
Two days later, another email claimed Clinton had approved an “idea about Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections,” to distract from “her own missing email.”
Disputed Emails and Intelligence
U.S. intelligence officials were divided over the authenticity of the emails. Some believed they were “likely authentic,” while others raised concerns they may have been “fabricated or altered.” Benardo denied writing the emails but admitted parts “sounded like something he would have said.”
The annex concluded the emails were likely a “composite” of several real emails obtained via Russian hacks of U.S. think tanks.
Clinton Campaign Denials
Despite the documents, Clinton and her team denied any plan. Clinton called the intelligence “Russian disinformation,” while campaign chair John Podesta called it “ridiculous.” Policy advisor Jake Sullivan admitted they focused on Trump and Russia but claimed he didn’t recall a strategy.
