Intel says Donald Trump agreed to let Russia have Ukraine in exchange for hacking election

[muriel_volestrangler]

35. Buzzfeed said that document had been passed around the media for weeks

Evidence for that, for instance: after the CNN story came out, but before Buzzfeed published, Rick Wilson, "a GOP communications and campaign strategist who ran former CIA officer Evan McMullin’s independent campaign for President", tweeted:

"Two words on the "personal" compromise.

Ritz. Carlton."

https://twitter.com/TheRickWilson/status/818951873248055296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

I think this is a correct amount of skepticism. From what David Corn seems to be intimating, this is, indeed, the file he saw before his reporting on this back at the end of October 2016.

John Schindler, a former NSA Tech Director, is indicating this is legit – both what CNN reported and the report that Buzzfeed posted.

Retired Senior Chief Petty Officer, and Naval Intelligence officer, Malcolm Nance, who’s book on Russian active measures to disrupt the 2016 election was published several months before the election, also supports Corn’s reporting and his confirmation that this is the information he saw and referenced for his October 2016 reporting.

Rick Wilson, who ran former CIA National Clandestine Service officer Evan McMullin’s Independent campaign for the presidency, and who was trying to work this oppo research into the media during the campaign, is also confirming this is, at least, some of that material. He also denies being Buzzfeed’s source.

Liz Mair, who was also working for a competing campaign during the GOP primaries has indicated that some the material in the oppo research report that Buzzfeed posted is material that she’s familiar with.

https://www.balloon-juice.com/2017/01/11/thoughts-on-the-report-buzzfeed-posted/

(Lots of links at that link)

So I think plenty of other people, Republicans and media (and I'd guess, though I don't know if any have said or hinted yet, Democrats) have seen the reports from the "ex-MI6 officer". But Buzzfeed has decided it can go public with it, after CNN came out with their story. As that last link I gave says, if Michael Cohen can show he wasn't in Prague around the time alleged, that will sink the credibility of that report.