{"id":107949,"date":"2025-07-31T16:12:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T16:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/107949\/"},"modified":"2025-07-31T16:12:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T16:12:15","slug":"newly-declassified-appendix-to-durham-report-sheds-additional-light-on-clinton-campaign-plan-to-falsely-tie-trump-to-russia-and-fbis-failure-to-investigate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/107949\/","title":{"rendered":"Newly Declassified Appendix to Durham Report Sheds Additional Light on Clinton Campaign Plan to Falsely Tie Trump to Russia and FBI\u2019s Failure to Investigate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>WASHINGTON \u2013 <\/strong>Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today is making public the <a href=\"https:\/\/links-1.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.grassley.senate.gov%2Fdownload%2Fdeclassified-durham-annex-released-by-chairman-grassley\/2\/01000198609c759d-4396ba81-78b3-44eb-bea0-7def619983fa-000000\/LEwx9AYSbuZAZETw8xwwuSfil7ABpY_ganr_puGtZCg=416\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">formerly Classified Appendix (\u201cDurham annex\u201d)<\/a> to John Durham\u2019s 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/storage\/durhamreport.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Special Counsel report<\/a>. The Unclassified Report and the Classified Appendix form the entirety of Durham\u2019s Special Counsel Report.<\/p>\n<p>The Durham annex contains previously classified information exposing a reported Clinton campaign plan to falsely tie President Donald Trump to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>The annex also goes into further detail on matters discussed in the Unclassified Report, specifically:<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>The FBI\u2019s failure \u2013 under the leadership of then-Director James Comey \u2013 to investigate intelligence that the Clinton campaign may have created the Russia collusion hoax. Meanwhile the Comey-led FBI used the Steele Dossier \u2013 a Clinton campaign creation \u2013 to obtain FISA warrants on Carter Page.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Intelligence Community elements declassified the Durham annex <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassley.senate.gov\/download\/grassley-to-potus_-durham-annex\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">at Grassley\u2019s request<\/a>. In requesting its declassification, which included declassification of information by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Agency (NSA), Grassley argued that \u201cthe overriding public interest demands the release of this information, and doing so would benefit public transparency and accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton\u2019s political gain, which was ultimately done through the Steele Dossier and other means. These intelligence reports and related records, whether true or false, were buried for years. History will show that the Obama and Biden administration\u2019s law enforcement and intelligence agencies were weaponized against President Trump. This political weaponization has caused critical damage to our institutions and is one of the biggest political scandals and cover-ups in American history. The new Trump administration has a tremendous responsibility to the American people to fix the damage done and do so with maximum speed and transparency,\u201d\u00a0<strong>Grassley said.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor years, I\u2019ve fought to assemble and publicize all the facts surrounding Durham\u2019s investigation, Crossfire Hurricane and related matters. The American people shouldn\u2019t be shortchanged or strung out on matters of significant public interest, and that firm belief fuels my tireless oversight. It\u2019s been a refreshing change to see Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel\u2019s increased efforts to bring transparency to a very dark corner of the people\u2019s government. I hope that attitude continues, and you can be sure my oversight work will continue as well, because there\u2019s much work yet to be done,\u201d <strong>Grassley concluded.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>Read the Durham annex <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/links-1.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.grassley.senate.gov%2Fdownload%2Fdeclassified-durham-annex-released-by-chairman-grassley\/2\/01000198609c759d-4396ba81-78b3-44eb-bea0-7def619983fa-000000\/LEwx9AYSbuZAZETw8xwwuSfil7ABpY_ganr_puGtZCg=416\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>Key Findings of the Durham Annex:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Clinton Campaign Plan <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2016, the Obama administration obtained intelligence information from a source contained in two separate memoranda \u2013 one memorandum from January 2016 and another from March 2016. The two memoranda \u201cdescribed \u2018confidential conversations\u2019 between then-Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and two individuals at the [Soros] Open Society Foundations (i) [Leonard] Benardo and (ii) Jeffrey Goldstein.\u201d (Pgs. 2-3)<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>This memo stated, in part, that \u201c[the Democratic Party\u2019s] opposition is focused on discrediting Trump\u2026. [a]mong other things, the Clinton staff, with support from special services, is preparing scandalous revelations of business relations between Trump and the \u2018Russian Mafia\u2019\u201d. (Pg. 4)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>According to the Durham annex, based on an analysis and translation of the intelligence, FBI analysts believed that, at the time, the \u201cspecial services\u201d in the March 2016 memorandum could refer \u201cto the FBI and the CIA or more broadly to the intelligence and law enforcement communities\u201d in the United States, or, analysts speculated, it could refer to \u201cTrump dossier author Christopher Steele.\u201d (Pg. 5)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>When the Obama administration received this intelligence in March 2016, Fusion GPS was preparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassley.senate.gov\/news\/news-releases\/newly-declassified-fbi-document-proves-fusion-gps-contractor-nellie-ohr-lied-to-congress-about-contributions-to-crossfire-hurricane\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">open source opposition research<\/a> regarding purported ties between Trump and Russians. The research was paid for by Clinton\u2019s campaign and the DNC. (Pg. 5).<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>Notably, on April 15, 2020, Grassley released Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassley.senate.gov\/news\/news-releases\/ig-footnotes-serious-problems-dossier-sources-didn-t-stop-fbi-s-page-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">DOJ OIG) footnotes<\/a> showing that Russian intelligence was aware of Steele\u2019s anti-Trump research in early July 2016. Further, the FBI had reports in hand in 2017 that the Dossier may have Russian sources and was potentially Russian disinformation.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p>On March 31, 2016, FBI personnel, including then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, shared the intelligence regarding the potential Clinton Campaign Plan with high-ranking career officials at DOJ. (Pg. 5)<\/p>\n<p><strong>FBI Receipt of Additional Intelligence Information on the Clinton Campaign Plan <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Durham annex describes that, in<strong> <\/strong>July 2016, the FBI received additional intelligence regarding a possible Clinton Campaign Plan, including documents with purported emails allegedly sent by Leonard Benardo, Senior Vice President of Soros\u2019 Open Society Foundations. The intelligence included data providing specificity on the plan and the attempt to smear then-candidate Donald Trump by falsely linking him to Russia, while apparently counting on the support of the FBI to open up an investigation. (Pgs. 7-11)<\/p>\n<p>The intelligence the FBI received also included information and analysis from purported Leonard Benardo emails that stated, in part:<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>\u201cDuring the first stage of the campaign, due to lack of direct evidence, it was decided to disseminate the necessary information through the FBI-affiliated\u2026technical structures\u2026 in particular, the Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect companies, from where the information would then be disseminated through leading U.S. publications.\u201d (Pg. 8)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>\u201cThe point is making the Russian play a U.S. domestic issue\u2026 In absence of direct evidence, Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect will supply the media, and GRU [Russia\u2019s Main Intelligence Directive] will hopefully carry on to give more facts.\u201d (Pg. 11)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Assessment of Authenticity of the \u201cBenardo Emails\u201d Intelligence <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>The Durham annex states, \u201cAnalysts and officers whom [Durham\u2019s team] interviewed, and who were well-versed in the Sensitive Intelligence collection, stated that their best assessment was that the Bernardo emails were likely authentic.\u201d (Pg. 11)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p>Durham\u2019s team conducted investigative work to inform their assessment. Per the Durham annex:<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>Communications the Durham team reviewed provided additional support that the Clinton campaign was engaged in a plan to tie Trump to Russia and that the campaign wanted or expected the Office of the Vice President, the FBI or other parts of the Intelligence Community, such as the State Department\u2019s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), to aid that effort. (Pgs. 16-17)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>The Durham annex states, \u201cThe Office\u2019s best assessment is that the \u2026 emails that purport to be from Benardo were ultimately a composite of several emails that were obtained through Russian intelligence hacking of the U.S.-based Think Tanks, including the Open Society Foundations, the Carnegie Endowment, and others.\u201d (Pg. 17)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>The Durham annex concludes, \u201cIt is a logical deduction [redacted] [Julianne] Smith was, at minimum, playing a role in the Clinton campaign\u2019s efforts to tie Trump to Russia,\u201d and that the communications it reviewed \u201ccertainly lends at least some credence that such a plan existed.\u201d (Pg. 17)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Obama-Biden Administration\u2019s Response to Intelligence on the Clinton Campaign Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>According to the Durham annex, following the receipt of this intelligence, multiple high-ranking U.S. officials were briefed on the matter, including an August 3, 2016 briefing in the White House by CIA Director John Brennan to President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, FBI Director Comey, among others. As described in Durham\u2019s Unclassified Report, ultimately, the CIA sent the FBI an investigative referral that included the \u201cpurported Clinton campaign plan.\u201d (Pg. 18)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>In 2017, the \u201cCIA prepared a written assessment of the authenticity and veracity of the above-referenced intelligence. The CIA stated that it did not assess that the above [redacted] memoranda, or [redacted] hacked U.S. communications, to be the product of Russian fabrications.\u201d (Pg. 19)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>The Durham annex notes that \u201cFBI was fully alerted to the possibility that at least some of the information it was receiving about the Trump campaign might have its origin either with the Clinton campaign or its supporters, or alternatively, was the product of Russian disinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>The Durham annex concludes, in part, that \u201c[d]espite this awareness, the FBI appears to have dismissed the [intelligence information] as not credible without any investigative steps actually having been taken to either corroborate or disprove the allegations.\u201d (Pgs. 22-24)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Threat of Foreign Election Influence and Assessment in FISA Renewal Applications <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the Unclassified Durham Report noted, \u201c[b]eginning in late 2014\u2026 the FBI learned from a well-placed Confidential Human Source that a foreign government (\u201cForeign Government-2\u201d) was planning to send an individual (\u201cNon-U.S. Person-I\u201d) to contribute to Clinton\u2019s anticipated presidential campaign, as a way to gain influence with Clinton should she win the presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Durham annex notes that \u201cNon-U.S.Person-I\u201d was \u201cdirectly tasked by the leader of Foreign Government-2\u201d with facilitating this plan, but had indicated plans to travel to the U.S. in late 2014.<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>However, as known from the Unclassified Durham Report, the FISA \u201capplication lingered because \u2018everyone was super more careful\u2019 and \u2018scared with the big name [Clinton]\u2019 involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>&#13;\n<p>Ultimately, after four months, the FISA authority was authorized following a commitment that Clinton and others targeted by Foreign Government-2 would receive defensive briefings. (Pgs. 23-24)<\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/ul>\n<p>The remainder of the Durham annex reinforces that the FBI provided false and misleading information to the FISA court in pursuit of FISA renewals, and at least one Confidential Human Source lied to his handlers.<\/p>\n<p>The information in the Durham annex, taken together with previously released details in the Unclassified Report, reinforce the FBI\u2019s disparate treatment of Trump versus Clinton. Despite lacking probable cause and relying on false information, the FBI secured a FISA warrant and multiple renewals to surveil Carter Page and did not provide Trump a defensive briefing equivalent to Clinton\u2019s briefings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>-30-<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WASHINGTON \u2013 Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today is making public the formerly Classified Appendix (\u201cDurham&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":107950,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[51,50,52],"class_list":{"0":"post-107949","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-top-stories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114948731432547257","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}