Clapper Reacts To The Possibility Of Being A Component Of Durham’s Criminal Inquiry: ‘What Is It That Any Of Us Did?’

Image Source: Fox News & CNN Video Screenshots. Swamp Drain Compilation]

Posted By: Lindsey Michelle October 25, 2019

Former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, spoke with host Anderson Cooper Thursday on CNN’s “A360” amid finding out that U.S. Attorney John Durham’s ongoing probe has transitioned into a full-fledged criminal investigation.

Fox News reported Tuesday that John Durham’s probe had “expanded significantly” based on new evidence uncovered during a recent trip to Rome with Attorney General William Barr. With his investigation opening up to a “criminal investigation”, it now means Durham can subpoena witnesses, file charges, and impanel grand juries.

Asked by Cooper Anderson what he makes of John Durham’s probe, James Clapper said, “I’m very curious and presumably, I guess I’m one of those under investigation.”

Clapper said that he just heard about the news of Durham’s investigation changing direction and claimed that he “found the timing interesting, given the increasing heat around [the] impeachment inquiry” against President Trump.

“The other thing I wonder about is [are] we’re talking about the overall investigation of the Russian reporting on the Russian interference? Or are we talking about the counterintelligence investigation that was launched in July by the FBI, about potential engagement and collusion– whatever you want to call it between the Russians and the Trump campaign. I’m very curious, what is the alleged criminal activity that prompted this,” he stated.

Asked what he thinks might rise to a criminal offense, Clapper claimed, “No, I don’t. That’s obviously an item of great interest to me. ‘What is it that any of us did’ that would rise a level of a criminal infraction, I just don’t know.” [Emphasis added]. (Continued Below)

CNN legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, chimed in and asserted, “I can tell you what the theory has been: there is this [Joseph] Mifsud character, who works in a university in Italy. And the ‘theory’ has been that somehow the ‘deep state’, people in the CIA, planted with him the idea that the Russians were helping Trump. Misfud told it to various campaign officials, George Papadopolous, among others.”

“It got back to the FBI and that’s what launched the investigations. So the claim is that the ‘deep state’ started this investigation. There’s ‘no evidence’ as far as I’m aware to support that hypothesis. It is clearly a right-wing fantasy, but that I think is the core allegation,” Toobin added.

Clapper responded to Toobin’s claim and said, “I’d just make the point, that had absolutely nothing to do with the intelligence community assessment that was done in January 2017 and briefed to President-elect Trump and his team in Trump Tower on January 6. Those are separate things. And that is a really far fetched theory in my view that somehow Misfud was set up by the FBI to create this conspiracy that the Russians were in cahoots.” (Video Below)

At the beginning of the month, James Clapper was asked during an interview on CNN if he is concerned if Attorney General William Barr or John Durham’s investigations will find wrongdoing and seek to punish former intelligence officials.

“And the message I’m getting from all of this is apparently what we were suppose to have done is to ignore the Russian interference, ignore the Russian meddling, and the threat that it poses to us,” Clapper said. “And oh, by the way, hold off what the then Commander in Chief, President Obama told us to do, which was assemble all the reporting we could, that we had available to us, and put it in one report that the President could pass on to Congress and the next administration.” [Emphasized].

“And while we’re at it, declassify as much as we possibly could to make it public, and that’s what we did,” he added. “It’s kind of disconcerting now to be investigated for having done our duty and what we were told to do by the President.” [Emphasized].

James Clappers’s official remarks begin at 1:45 into the video:

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George Papadopoulos also responded amid the news with a series of tweets:

“Breaking: John Durham’s investigation has officially morphed into a criminal investigation. When I said Mifsud and Downer were in on it together and Halper was there to provide cover, I was serious. Expect conspiracy charges to come out of this. Great day for America!” he expressed.

“Alexander Downer will forever be remembered as the Clinton errand boy,” Papadopoulos continued.

“For anyone who thinks that AG Barr and John Durham are on a fishing expedition around the world following “conspiracy theories”, I have a bridge to sell you in the Sahara. Their findings will change world history,” he wrote.

“I could not believe my eyes when I saw Alexander Downer begin to repeatedly ask me questions and record me with his phone. I left the meeting thinking he was the most idiotic spy I ever saw. After reporting him to Congress for his behavior, Durham’s investigation quietly launched”.

(Continued Below)

“Keep the microscope on Clapper’s numerous trips to Australia over the past year to cover both Australia’s and his tracks in trying to sabotage the 2016 campaign,” Papadopoulos suggested.

“The world will never be the same,” he said.

“We are finally going to get to the bottom of that mysterious $10,000!” Papadopoulos added.

(Related: Bartiromo Pieces Together How Brennan Was The ‘Mastermind’ Behind The Russia Probe: ‘At The Time, He Was Running The CIA’)