Snopes CEO Chris Richmond stated in a recent MSNBC interview that the U.S. government, not fact-checkers, shouldered the blame for suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story. This comes as former President Trump pledged to revoke security clearances from 51 former national security officials who dismissed the laptop as Russian disinformation.
The New York Post's 2020 report revealed emails suggesting Hunter Biden connected his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, with a Burisma executive. Following this, the 51 officials, lacking evidence, publicly labeled the story a potential Russian operation.
Several of these officials later became prominent cable news commentators. Former DNI James Clapper, a key figure in the letter, joined CNN and asserted in his book that Russia influenced the 2016 election. Similarly, former CIA Director John Brennan, another signatory, frequently appears on MSNBC, where he has criticized Trump and linked Republican lawmakers to Russia.
Despite the officials' claims, Fox News Digital later reported that Department of Justice investigators knew the laptop was authentic and contained reliable evidence as early as 2019, based on information from an IRS whistleblower. This revelation contradicts the narrative of Russian disinformation pushed by the officials and then-candidate Biden.
Fox News Digital contacted the 51 officials for comment on their past assertions. James Clapper maintained his stance, showing no regret for signing the letter.
