Latest news with #Clapper
Fox News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
James Clapper, John Brennan hit back at Trump allegations about Russia probe as 'patently false'
Former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper responded sharply Wednesday to Trump administration allegations that they cooked intel in the sprawling Russia investigation that dominated the president's first term. "That is patently false. In making those allegations, they seek to rewrite history. We want to set the record straight and, in doing so, sound a warning," the pair wrote in a guest essay for The New York Times. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has alleged former President Barack Obama and members of his administration, including Clapper and Brennan, promoted a "contrived narrative" that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump, which led to the sprawling collusion investigation that consumed Trump's presidency. Trump has described the alleged actions by Obama, Clapper, Brennan and Comey as "serious treason." "While some external critiques have noted that parts of the Russia investigation could have been handled better, multiple, thorough, years-long reviews of the assessment have validated its findings and the rigor of its analysis," Brennan and Clapper wrote, arguing the most "noteworthy" example was the bipartisan Senate Intelligence report on the investigation. "Every serious review has substantiated the intelligence community's fundamental conclusion that the Russians conducted an influence campaign intended to help Mr. Trump win the 2016 election," the pair continued. "Although the misrepresentations and disinformation of the administration are too numerous to address here, let us set the record straight on three. To be clear, we are writing here in our personal capacities, and our views don't imply the endorsement of any federal agency." Brennan and Clapper argued that the Steele Dossier, which was authored by ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele and funded by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the DNC, was not used as a source or taken into account for any of the analysis. However, they added it was included as a "separate annex only to the most highly classified version of the document that contained the assessment," at the direction of the FBI. The intelligence officials also said that their assessment made "no judgment" about the impact of the Russian operation on the outcome of the 2016 election. "Russian influence operations might have shaped the views of Americans before they entered the voting booth, but we found no evidence that the Russians changed any actual votes," Clapper and Brennan wrote. Clapper appeared on CNN to dispute the allegations, telling host Kaitlan Collins that the claims were false. Brennan joined MSNBC earlier this month and said he was "clueless" as to why he would be investigated. "Finally, and contrary to the Trump administration's wild and baseless claims, there was no mention of 'collusion' between the Trump campaign and the Russians in the assessment, nor any reference to the publicly acknowledged contacts that had taken place," Clapper and Brennan added. The pair insisted the "real politicization" was coming from members of Trump's administration, specifically Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. "The real politicization is the calculated distortion of intelligence by administration officials, notably Mr. Trump's directors of national intelligence and the C.I.A., positions that should be apolitical. We find it deeply regrettable that the administration continues to perpetuate the fictitious narrative that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 election. It should instead acknowledge that a foreign nation-state — a mortal enemy of the United States — routinely meddles in our national elections and will continue to do so unless we take appropriate bipartisan action to stop it," Clapper and Brennan concluded. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Atlantic
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Atlantic
A Dog, a Spymaster, and Trump's Thirst for ‘Deep State' Revenge
Earlier this year, an adorable yellow Lab named Susan completed a CIA training program for 'detection K9s.' She was a natural at sniffing out concealed explosives—think car bombs and suicide vests—and the agency was eager to put her to work protecting its personnel. James Clapper, who had sponsored Susan through a nonprofit organization that helps place service dogs, was delighted. Clapper, 84, was one of the longest-serving and most experienced intelligence officers in U.S. history, and was the Director of National Intelligence in the Obama administration. There was a certain professional symmetry in his pup ending up at the CIA, a place he both knew intimately and deeply admired. It was also bittersweet: Clapper named Susan after his late wife, a former National Security Agency employee who had been at his side during his five-decade career. Susan, a great animal lover, had volunteered at a local shelter and 'doted on the family dog, Augusta,' according to her 2023 obituary. Clapper was looking forward to attending the dog's graduation ceremony at a CIA training facility in Herndon, Virginia. But the day before the event, in late May, he received an email from the nonprofit dog-training group: Clapper's name had been scratched from the guest list, per an executive order from the president of the United States. Now, Donald Trump has a thing against dogs. He has said that the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 'died like a dog and a coward.' General Stanley McChrystal was 'fired like a dog' by President Barack Obama. At a campaign rally in 2019, Trump said a lot of people had urged him to imitate prior presidents and get a dog. No way. 'It feels a little phony to me.' But Trump's dislike for Clapper is even greater than his disdain for dogs. In fact, Trump once compared Clapper to a canine, writing in a tweet that Clapper and another Obama-era official had begun to 'choke like dogs' during a Senate hearing about the Kremlin's interference in the 2020 election, which Trump calls the 'Russia hoax,' a hoax he accuses Clapper and other members of the 'deep state' of concocting. Trump has no doubt watched many of Clapper's cable-news appearances over the past five years, in which he has bemoaned the president's coarseness and questioned his fitness for office. After Trump returned to the White House, payback for Clapper was swift and personal. Via executive order, Trump stripped his security clearance along with those of more than four dozen other former intelligence officials. Their proximate sin: signing a letter suggesting that the publication of emails found on a laptop purportedly belonging to Joe Biden's son Hunter might be the result of a Russian-government operation. (There is no evidence that it was.) Peter Wehner: Trump's Appetite for Revenge is Insatiable But back to Susan the bomb dog, and her graduation ceremony. CIA officials interpreted Trump's order to mean that Clapper should be barred from even setting foot on agency property. The agency conveyed that message to the nonprofit, which had invited Clapper to attend the ceremony, a representative with the organization told me. (The CIA itself declined to comment on the Clapper snub.) The upshot is that an octogenarian Air Force retiree who spent half a century in his nation's service was not allowed to attend a party for a dog he essentially donated to the government and named after his dead wife. There was no legitimate policy reason for keeping Clapper away. This was not a classified event. Attendees didn't need a security clearance. There are photos from the ceremony on Facebook, showing happy people proudly posing with happy service dogs. One presumes that graduates were showered with scritches, kisses, and lots of treats, and not given the nuclear codes. Clapper declined to comment on all of this—nor did he tip me off to it. Plenty of people are outraged on his behalf. Though the story might seem trivial, it illustrates how powerfully this administration seeks retribution. Shane Harris: Trump's 'Deep State' Revenge Three days after Trump's second inauguration, I wrote that his executive order naming Clapper and others was his 'first shot in a war he has long promised against the 'deep state.'' The hits keep coming. Most recently, CIA Director John Ratcliffe falsely characterized a review he had personally ordered into Russia's 2020 election interference. That report, which validated the CIA's original findings, became the apparent basis for a criminal investigation into two other Obama-era officials. Contorted reports. Dubious investigations. Dog parties. Among all of the challenges facing the U.S., these are the subjects that have captured the attention of our national-security leadership. Thankfully, Susan will be focused on her job protecting CIA officers. Given how well she performed in training, we can assume she has a bright career ahead of her.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Notre Dame football continues its hot recruiting, landing 2026 Ohio 4-star linebacker
Notre Dame football is coming off a very successful month of recruiting in April, and they are looking like there is nothing that is going to stop them in May. To start off the Irish's weekend the right way, they received a commitment from 2026 Ohio linebacker Jakobe Clapper. The 6-foot, 2-inch and 215-pound prospect is ranked as the No. 398 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Advertisement Clapper picked Notre Dame over teams like Oregon, Michigan, Louisville and Ohio State. This shouldn't go unnoticed, as the Irish battled multiple regional powers in his recruitment and ultimately won out. The 2026 class is now up to 13 total commits, and is ranked as the No. 2 overall class in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. Head coach Marcus Freeman has used this past seasons momentum on the recruiting trail, and it is paying off big dividends, with Clapper as the most recent success story. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame football gets a commitment from 2026 OH LB Jakobe Clapper
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
LGL: WCTL Radio 106.3
An Erie Christian radio station, broadcasting to the region for 58 years, got a visit from JET 24's Loving Giving Local this week. Dan Sheldon and Lori Clapper host the morning show on WCTL Radio 106.3. The Christian radio station has been delivering it's message over the airwaves in the tri-state area since 1967. Nothing short of a miracle on today's radio landscape. 'What we love is that 58 years later and in radio, we're still local,' said WCTL morning show host Lori Clapper. 'We broadcast the latest Christian music. We have fun programs. I'm part of the morning show from 6:30 to 10 am. So, we have a family-friendly morning show, which is nice.' She added, 'It's important for families because they can turn us on and not be afraid of what the kids might hear.' WCTL Radio was the recipient of this week's Loving Giving Local of $250 from Auto Express. It comes at a good time, according to Clapper. 'We have been in the middle of a capital campaign where we are making improvements to not only to our physical building here but to our on-air presence as well. We are just thrilled to receive this gift as part of that. sort of icing on the cake to just help us move forward and into the future,' she said. After making the check presentation, Joe Askins of Auto Express said, WCTL has been on the air in our community for over 50 years. 'For us to be able to deliver Loving Giving Local here today and all they have going on at this location, we know the donation will go to great use, and that's what Loving Giving Local is all about,' Askins said. WCTL is listener-supported radio. Besides the check from Loving Giving Local, there are ways you can help support his local ministry. 'Maybe you have something to offer that would help our building or help our on-air presence,' Clapper explained. 'We're open to discussing things like that as well.' And she added, 'If you're a business, you can also advertise.' The radio station conducts a spring and fall share-a-thon to raise funds to support their work. Learn more about them Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame football continues its hot recruiting, landing 2026 Ohio 4-star linebacker
Notre Dame football continues its hot recruiting, landing 2026 Ohio 4-star linebacker Notre Dame football is coming off a very successful month of recruiting in April, and they are looking like there is nothing that is going to stop them in May. To start off the Irish's weekend the right way, they received a commitment from 2026 Ohio linebacker Jakobe Clapper. The 6-foot, 2-inch and 215-pound prospect is ranked as the No. 398 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Clapper picked Notre Dame over teams like Oregon, Michigan, Louisville and Ohio State. This shouldn't go unnoticed, as the Irish battled multiple regional powers in his recruitment and ultimately won out. The 2026 class is now up to 13 total commits, and is ranked as the No. 2 overall class in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. Head coach Marcus Freeman has used this past seasons momentum on the recruiting trail, and it is paying off big dividends, with Clapper as the most recent success story.
