Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper defended his decision to sign a 2020 letter suggesting Hunter Biden's laptop was Russian disinformation. In a recent CNN interview, Clapper maintained he has yet to see forensic proof contradicting this possibility, emphasizing his concern about Russian interference, particularly given their actions in the 2016 election. He stated that the letter included a caveat acknowledging the absence of direct evidence at the time.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins questioned Clapper about his lack of regret and pointed out the absence of evidence supporting Russian involvement. Clapper concurred with this assessment. He has previously accused Politico of misrepresenting the letter's intent, arguing their headline implied definitive proof of Russian disinformation rather than raising a cautionary flag.
Another signatory of the letter echoed Clapper's sentiments, expressing the importance of the letter's careful wording to mitigate potential misinterpretations and provide a clear record to counter distortions. This comes amidst Hunter Biden's recent agreement to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and enter a pretrial diversion agreement concerning a firearm possession charge.
