Following the publication of a dossier containing explosive and unverified info on Donald Trump and Russia, BBC News reported Wednesday that it originated in opposition research done by a former British intelligence officer working for a Super PAC supporting none other than Jeb Bush.
If that sounds like a too-good-to-be-true political plot twist, that’s because maybe it is—a lawyer for the PAC told TPM it “had nothing to do with British Intelligence officers.”
The Guardian reported earlier Wednesday that the former British intelligence official credited with compiling the dossier on the alleged Russia-Trump ties had been working as a subcontractor for an opposition research firm digging up dirt for one of Trump’s Republican presidential primary opponents. The article pointed out that often, research firms do not know who exactly who is hiring them.
The Guardian’s report did not name who the opposition research firm’s client was. But BBC News’ Paul Wood later reported, without citing any sources, that “the opposition research firm that commissioned the report had worked first for a superpac – political action committee – supporting Jeb Bush during the Republican primaries.”
BBC’s Paul Wood reveals that this former Mi6 official was working for Jeb!’s SuperPAC when he compiled the info https://t.co/Meh7ZkdrXW
— David Shor (@DYShor) January 11, 2017
Almost as soon as the BBC report hit Twitter, Charlie Spies, an attorney for Right to Rise USA, which had supported Bush’s presidential candidacy, disputed it.
“Right to Rise categorically denies the BBC reporter’s made up report and will be demanding that he retract the made up allegation,” Spies wrote in an email to TPM. “Other than enjoying James Bond movies, the PAC had nothing to do with British Intelligence officers.”
Spies had tweeted that the PAC’s opposition research team had denied the BBC report and that he planned to send a cease-and-desist letter to the news organization:
This is categorically false. Working on cease & desist letter to BBC radio to stop making up fake news. https://t.co/UNfLz5WeM4
— Charlie Spies (@cspiesdc) January 11, 2017
@henryten checked with the PAC’s oppo team and they assure this is not true. I trust them over anonymous allegation.
— Charlie Spies (@cspiesdc) January 11, 2017
The head of the PAC, Mike Murphy, also tweeted and denied the report.
Hmmm… news to me. Totally untrue. R2R had zero to do with this; never saw report, never heard of this ex MI-6 guy. #BadUKJournalism https://t.co/muPGnxgqIK
— mike murphy (@murphymike) January 11, 2017
It would be irresponsible not to speculate.
We’re doomed.
Get ya popcorn ready
I thought it was Jeb …
in the loo …
with the plunger ----
Now I have to go and re-formulate … DAMN IT ! —
Seriously, would they know what guy did the work, even if the guy was a VP or partner? They are always about plausible deniability. The question needs to be: Did you hire a firm to look into Trump’s Russian ties? Was that firm company X? What reports did you receive and how did you act on them. Reporters in 8th grade do better.
Okay. I bought a bit more yesterday.