Donald Trump plans to revoke the security clearances of 51 former intelligence and national security officials who had labeled Hunter Biden’s laptop as a Russian operation.
Key Facts:
• The officials stated in 2020 that Hunter Biden’s laptop bore “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
• Many of the signers, including James Clapper and John Brennan, later became frequent cable news analysts.
• Federal investigators found in late 2019 that the laptop contained “reliable evidence” and had not been altered.
• Trump says he will take action to suspend these officials’ clearances on his first day back in the White House.
The Rest of The Story:
Soon after the New York Post reported in October 2020 that Hunter Biden had arranged meetings between his father Joe and a Ukrainian business contact, 51 former security officials wrote a very public and misleading letter.
They insisted the story resembled a Russian information scheme, though they admitted they possessed no proof of any Kremlin link.
Figures like former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan later served as television commentators.
They often cited their security backgrounds when discussing Trump, sometimes criticizing him.
Emails, however, indicate Department of Justice investigators concluded in 2019 that the laptop was genuine.
According to a whistleblower, these officials were blocked from seeing the entire cache of information about the device.
Despite the officials’ claims, both Clapper and Brennan have stood by their assessment.
Clapper said he did not regret signing the letter that doubted the laptop’s authenticity.
IRS whistleblowers say the FBI, IRS, and Justice Department knew immediately the Hunter Biden laptop was real in late 2019 and that there was no basis for the statement from 51 former intelligence officials that the laptop had the “classic earmarks” of a Russian information… https://t.co/3jowOAy1vd pic.twitter.com/tOSkZ1cMqT
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) October 29, 2024
Meanwhile, Brennan continued appearing on television, where he suggested Russia might be exploiting Republican support.
Trump says he will suspend the clearances of those officials, contending they misled the public.
He believes taking this step will prevent them from using privileged information to sway opinions on major news networks.
Trump to suspend security clearances of 51 former CIA contractors who falsely implied Hunter Biden laptop was Russian fake https://t.co/hQNaKo4RrG pic.twitter.com/orZh5UTR1X
— New York Post (@nypost) January 20, 2025
Commentary:
Taking away the security clearances of these 51 former officials is a good start.
Their decision to sign a letter that painted the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation, without solid proof, was a major abuse of their positions.
We also believe they should face the strongest legal consequences possible, including potential charges for interfering in the election process.
Our view is that security experts who spread false claims must answer for the impact of their words.
If they intentionally misled the public to help steer the election, they should be held responsible.
We see this move by Donald Trump as a way to uphold honesty and ensure leaders do not misuse their authority for political gain.
The Bottom Line:
Trump’s proposed action signals a broader desire to hold officials accountable for statements about Hunter Biden’s laptop.
The Justice Department’s prior evidence suggests the device was legitimate, challenging claims made by the 51 signers.
Questions persist about whether these former officials unfairly shaped public views.
Trump’s plan to remove their clearances reflects his continued clash with the intelligence community.