Here's How To Understand The Bombshell New Report On Trump And Russia

Top intelligence officials have briefed President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump on claims that Russian spies have compromising personal and financial information about Trump, CNN reported Tuesday evening.

The allegations were contained in memos written by a former British spy hired to conduct opposition research on Trump. The claims in the documents which BuzzFeed News published in full on Tuesday night came from Russian sources, the ex-spy told reporters for multiple outlets. But these claims have been reported before, they arent independently verified, and even the man who originally broke the story has warned readers to treat them cautiously.

Heres what you may have missed: As CNN acknowledges, those same claims were first reported before the election. Now CNN is reporting that FBI Director James Comey, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan and Adm. Mike Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, have presented information summarizing the claims to Obama and Trump. That shows that the intelligence community takes the allegations seriously enough to investigate them, summarize them, and brief the president and his successor on them.

But theres still no compelling public evidence that the claims are true. We havent seen how much of this information the intelligence community thought was worth mentioning or was able to find some verification for in the two-page document they presented to Obama and Trump. And the president-elect has, in his own way, already denied the claims:

FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Donald J. Trump","author_url":"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump","cache_age":86400,"description":"FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Donald J. Trump on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/818990655418617856","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/trump-russia-cnn-kompromat_n_58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,us-news,russia,fbi,cnn,fbi-director,mother-jones,director-of-central-intelligence,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"theworldpost,media","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/d47abfb7-08b6-45c5-b273-a8a627864e78/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":981465,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"Russia","slug":"russia","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia"},"relegenceId":3691301,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Russia","slug":"russia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia"},{"name":"FBI","slug":"fbi","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/fbi","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi"},"relegenceId":3683015,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Crime","slug":"crime"},"topic":{"title":"FBI","slug":"fbi","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/fbi"},{"name":"CNN","slug":"cnn","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/cnn","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/cnn","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/cnn"},"relegenceId":3454339,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"CNN","slug":"cnn","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/cnn"},{"name":"fbi director","slug":"fbi-director","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/fbi-director","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi-director","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi-director"},"relegenceId":3918396,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Crime","slug":"crime"},"topic":{"title":"FBI","slug":"fbi","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/fbi"},{"name":"mother jones","slug":"mother-jones","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/mother-jones","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones"},"relegenceId":3637863,"url":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones"},{"name":"Director of Central Intelligence","slug":"director-of-central-intelligence","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/director-of-central-intelligence","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/director-of-central-intelligence","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/director-of-central-intelligence"},"relegenceId":3625390,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"CIA","slug":"cia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/cia"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017

This story starts back in October, when Mother Jones, where I used to work, reported that a former spy for a Western nation (thanks to CNN, we now know it was the U.K.) provided the FBI with memos, based on his recent interactions with Russian sources, contending the Russian government has for years tried to co-opt and assist Trump. The FBI, Mother Jones added, requested more information from the ex-spy, who told the magazine that there was an established exchange of information between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin of mutual benefit.

Theres no way to tell whether the FBI has confirmed or debunked any of the allegations contained in the former spys memos, Mother Jones noted in October. And the FBI has still not confirmed many essential details in the memos, CNN reported on Tuesday. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also said Wednesday that hed seen sensitive information last year and turned it over to the FBI to investigate.

As The Daily Beasts Noah Shachtman noted, the memos had been circulating in newsrooms for months:

2/ This document (and the info therein) has been floating in media & govt circles for MONTHS.

Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) January 11, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Noah Shachtman","author_url":"https://twitter.com/NoahShachtman","cache_age":86400,"description":"2/ This document (and the info therein) has been floating in media & govt circles for MONTHS.— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) January 11, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Noah Shachtman on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/NoahShachtman/status/818974492663877632","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/trump-russia-cnn-kompromat_n_58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,us-news,russia,fbi,cnn,fbi-director,mother-jones,director-of-central-intelligence,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"theworldpost,media","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/d47abfb7-08b6-45c5-b273-a8a627864e78/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":981465,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"Russia","slug":"russia","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia"},"relegenceId":3691301,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Russia","slug":"russia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia"},{"name":"FBI","slug":"fbi","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/fbi","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi"},"relegenceId":3683015,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Crime","slug":"crime"},"topic":{"title":"FBI","slug":"fbi","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/fbi"},{"name":"CNN","slug":"cnn","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/cnn","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/cnn","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/cnn"},"relegenceId":3454339,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"CNN","slug":"cnn","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/cnn"},{"name":"fbi director","slug":"fbi-director","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/fbi-director","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi-director","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi-director"},"relegenceId":3918396,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Crime","slug":"crime"},"topic":{"title":"FBI","slug":"fbi","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/fbi"},{"name":"mother jones","slug":"mother-jones","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/mother-jones","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones"},"relegenceId":3637863,"url":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones"},{"name":"Director of Central Intelligence","slug":"director-of-central-intelligence","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/director-of-central-intelligence","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/director-of-central-intelligence","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/director-of-central-intelligence"},"relegenceId":3625390,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"CIA","slug":"cia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/cia"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

2/ This document (and the info therein) has been floating in media & govt circles for MONTHS.
Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) January 11, 2017

Multiple media outlets investigated. A Politico writer tweeted Tuesday night that his publication had probed some of the allegations but hadnt been able to confirm them. Nor had anyone else.

Tuesday evenings news tells us that the intelligence community was confident enough about the information in the memos to brief Obama and Trump on them. By publishing the story with no less than Watergate investigator Carl Bernsteins byline on it CNN is sending a signal to other media outlets to take this subject seriously. And by dumping the documents on the internet without any ability to verify the claims, BuzzFeed has ensured that this story will continue to attract attention.

But the timing is especially interesting. Trump has been criticizing the intelligence communitys work on Russian interference in last years election. My take is that this is the IC trolling Trump, one former top intel official who works on Russia issues speculated. Because Trump stupidly picked a fight with the IC, theyre just releasing stuff to generate bad headlines.

On Tuesday night, Mother Jones updated its original story. In Mother Jones original report, the editors noted, we did not publish the memos drafted by the intelligence official or cite specific details from the documents because the allegations could not be confirmed.

I didnt publish all of the memos because the allegations in them couldnt be confirmed, and I couldnt confirm the FBI was mounting a thorough investigation of these allegations, David Corn, my ex-boss and the author of the piece, told me Tuesday. So I thought it was responsible to note the memos existence and characterize the information within them without providing all the details. Even Donald Trump deserves fairness.

Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed, sent a note to his staff, which he tweeted Tuesday evening, explaining how we made the decision to publish the secret dossier.

Here's the note I sent to @buzzfeednews staff this evening pic.twitter.com/OcAloWzVzb

Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 11, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Ben Smith","author_url":"https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedBen","cache_age":86400,"description":"Here's the note I sent to @buzzfeednews staff this evening pic.twitter.com/OcAloWzVzb— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 11, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Ben Smith on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedBen/status/818978955965464580","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/trump-russia-cnn-kompromat_n_58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,us-news,russia,fbi,cnn,fbi-director,mother-jones,director-of-central-intelligence,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"theworldpost,media","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/d47abfb7-08b6-45c5-b273-a8a627864e78/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"58757682e4b03c8a02d3dbd7","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":981465,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"Russia","slug":"russia","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia"},"relegenceId":3691301,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Russia","slug":"russia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia"},{"name":"FBI","slug":"fbi","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/fbi","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi"},"relegenceId":3683015,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Crime","slug":"crime"},"topic":{"title":"FBI","slug":"fbi","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/fbi"},{"name":"CNN","slug":"cnn","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/cnn","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/cnn","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/cnn"},"relegenceId":3454339,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"CNN","slug":"cnn","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/cnn"},{"name":"fbi director","slug":"fbi-director","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/fbi-director","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi-director","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/fbi-director"},"relegenceId":3918396,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Crime","slug":"crime"},"topic":{"title":"FBI","slug":"fbi","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/fbi"},{"name":"mother jones","slug":"mother-jones","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/mother-jones","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones"},"relegenceId":3637863,"url":"https://action.news/topic/mother-jones"},{"name":"Director of Central Intelligence","slug":"director-of-central-intelligence","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/director-of-central-intelligence","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/director-of-central-intelligence","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/director-of-central-intelligence"},"relegenceId":3625390,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"CIA","slug":"cia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/cia"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Here's the note I sent to @buzzfeednews staff this evening pic.twitter.com/OcAloWzVzb
Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 11, 2017

And Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) sent a letter to Obama requesting the administration provide a description of the information Russia has obtained regarding the President-elect in a classified briefing to Congress.

Obama responded to the report before delivering his farewell address Tuesday night, telling NBC he doesnt comment on classified information as a matter of principle and national security.

I ordered a report about Russias involvement in the hacking of the DNC, and passing on that information to WikiLeaks, because I felt it was important now that the election was over for everybody to understand exactly what happened in order to prevent it from happening again, in order to make sure that were working effectively with our allies so that misinformation and cyberattacks dont end up undermining democratic structures around the world, Obama said.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

My expectation and my hope is that this work will continue after I leave, that Congress in possession of both the classified and unclassified reports, that the president-elect and his administration in possession of both the classified and unclassified reports will take it seriously and now get to work reinforcing those mechanisms that we can use to protect our democracy.

Ryan Grim contributed reporting.

This story has been updated with news that Sen. John McCain passed information to the FBI.

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{},"defer":true,"addPlaceholder":false}">