Fact Check: "Donald Trump's peepee tapes exist"
What We Know
The claim regarding the existence of "pee tapes" involving Donald Trump originates from the infamous Steele dossier, compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele in 2016. The dossier alleges that Russian intelligence possesses a video showing Trump engaging in sexual acts with prostitutes at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow, specifically involving urination on a bed that former President Barack Obama had used during his stay (source-1, source-3). This claim has been a point of contention and speculation in American politics since the dossier's publication in January 2017, when BuzzFeed News made the document public.
The primary source for the pee tape allegation, Igor Danchenko, who contributed to the Steele dossier, has stated that the information he gathered was based on rumors and secondhand accounts, and he himself expressed skepticism about the validity of the claims (source-1). Despite the sensational nature of the claim, no concrete evidence has emerged to confirm the existence of such a tape (source-1, source-3).
Analysis
The credibility of the pee tape claim is heavily debated. On one hand, the Steele dossier, which includes the allegation, was commissioned by the Democratic National Committee and has been criticized for containing unverified information and speculative claims (source-1). Danchenko himself has indicated that the sources he relied upon were not direct witnesses to the alleged events, which raises questions about the reliability of the information (source-3).
On the other hand, Christopher Steele has defended the dossier, suggesting that the allegations, including the pee tape, are plausible and may indeed exist (source-6). However, the lack of direct evidence and the reliance on secondhand accounts significantly weaken the claim's credibility. Furthermore, a 2019 inspector general report suggested that some of the dossier's claims may have originated as disinformation from Russian intelligence (source-1).
The sources discussing the pee tape vary in reliability, with some being well-respected journalists and analysts, while others may have biases due to their political affiliations or the sensational nature of the topic (source-6, source-8).
Conclusion
The claim that "Donald Trump's peepee tapes exist" is Partially True. While the allegation stems from a widely discussed and controversial source—the Steele dossier—there is no definitive evidence to confirm the existence of such a tape. The information is based on unverified rumors and secondhand accounts, and the credibility of the sources involved is mixed. Therefore, while the claim has some basis in reported allegations, it remains unproven and speculative.
Sources
- Analyst Who Reported the Infamous Trump Tape Rumor ... New York Times
- Absolutely Every Single Thing We Know About the Pee Tape The Cut
- Christopher Steele Defends Russia Dossier, Says Trump Golden Shower Tape “Probably Does” Exist Vanity Fair
- Howie Carr: Durham Report says origin of the pee-tape hoax in the Steele dossier Boston Herald
