Des Moines Sun

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has released the formerly classified appendix to Special Counsel John Durham’s 2023 report. The document, known as the “Durham annex,” was declassified at Grassley’s request and offers new details about intelligence related to a reported Clinton campaign effort to falsely connect Donald Trump to Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

The annex includes previously classified information regarding potential foreign influence on U.S. elections and outlines how the FBI, under then-Director James Comey, did not fully investigate intelligence suggesting that the Clinton campaign may have initiated what became known as the Russia collusion narrative. This is consistent with earlier findings that described how opposition research, funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) through Fusion GPS, focused on alleged ties between Trump and Russian entities.

According to the newly released document, in early 2016, U.S. officials received intelligence from two memoranda detailing discussions among senior DNC officials and representatives of Soros’ Open Society Foundations. One memorandum indicated President Barack Obama intended to end an FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. Another outlined plans within the Clinton campaign to associate Trump with Russia.

The annex further describes that in March 2016, Fusion GPS began compiling research on purported connections between Trump and Russian actors for the Clinton campaign and DNC. Intelligence later received by the FBI included emails allegedly sent by Leonard Benardo of Open Society Foundations, which referenced strategies involving media organizations Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect disseminating information linking Trump to Russian interference.

Analysts interviewed for Durham’s inquiry believed these emails were likely authentic or based on actual communications obtained through hacking operations against U.S.-based think tanks.

Grassley stated: “Based on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton’s political gain, which was ultimately done through the Steele Dossier and other means. These intelligence reports and related records, whether true or false, were buried for years. History will show that the Obama and Biden administration’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies were weaponized against President Trump. This political weaponization has caused critical damage to our institutions and is one of the biggest political scandals and cover-ups in American history. The new Trump administration has a tremendous responsibility to the American people to fix the damage done and do so with maximum speed and transparency.”

He added: “For years, I’ve fought to assemble and publicize all the facts surrounding Durham’s investigation, Crossfire Hurricane and related matters. The American people shouldn’t be shortchanged or strung out on matters of significant public interest, and that firm belief fuels my tireless oversight. It’s been a refreshing change to see Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel’s increased efforts to bring transparency to a very dark corner of the people’s government. I hope that attitude continues, and you can be sure my oversight work will continue as well, because there’s much work yet to be done.”

The appendix also notes high-level briefings took place within federal agencies after this intelligence surfaced; CIA Director John Brennan briefed President Obama along with Vice President Joe Biden in August 2016 about these findings.

A written assessment prepared by CIA analysts concluded they did not believe this set of memoranda or associated hacked communications were Russian fabrications.

The document states that despite being aware some information could have originated from either supporters of Clinton or Russian disinformation campaigns themselves, “the FBI appears to have dismissed [the intelligence] as not credible without any investigative steps actually having been taken.”

Additional findings relate that starting in late 2014 an individual associated with a foreign government sought ways—including contributions—to influence Hillary Clinton's anticipated presidential run; internal hesitation reportedly delayed surveillance authorization due partly to concerns over targeting someone connected with such a prominent figure.

Taken together with previous public releases from Durham's unclassified report—including references showing Russian knowledge of Christopher Steele's anti-Trump research—the new appendix reinforces criticisms about uneven handling by federal agencies when investigating allegations against both major party candidates during 2016.