Fact Check: John Brennan may have perjured himself during testimony about the Steele Dossier.

Fact Check: "John Brennan may have perjured himself during testimony about the Steele Dossier"

What We Know

The claim that John Brennan, former CIA Director, may have perjured himself during his testimony regarding the Steele Dossier has gained traction, particularly among certain media outlets and political commentators. This assertion stems from accusations made by figures such as Tucker Carlson, who suggested that Brennan lied about the dossier's role in intelligence assessments related to Russian interference in the 2016 election (source-2).

Brennan testified before Congress in 2017, stating that the Steele Dossier was "not in any way used as a basis for" an intelligence report that was presented to then-President Obama and President-elect Trump (source-2). The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General later released a report that found significant concerns regarding the FBI's investigation but did not substantiate claims that the dossier was a major element in the intelligence report (source-2).

The Inspector General's report indicated that while some aspects of the dossier were corroborated, it was not used to reach any intelligence conclusions and was included in an appendix with caveats about its reliability (source-2).

Analysis

The accusation of perjury against Brennan hinges on the interpretation of his statements and the findings of the Inspector General's report. Critics argue that Brennan's testimony was misleading because it downplayed the dossier's significance in the intelligence community's assessments (source-2). However, the Inspector General's report does not support the claim that the dossier was a central component of the intelligence briefing provided to Obama and Trump. Instead, it clarified that the dossier's information was included in an appendix and was not relied upon for key conclusions (source-2).

Furthermore, the sources making the perjury claims, such as Tucker Carlson's program, have been criticized for potential bias and for promoting misleading narratives (source-2). The reliability of these sources is questionable, as they often present information that aligns with partisan viewpoints rather than objective analysis.

Conclusion

The claim that John Brennan may have perjured himself during his testimony about the Steele Dossier is False. The evidence presented does not substantiate the accusation of perjury, as the Inspector General's report does not indicate that Brennan's statements were materially misleading. Instead, it clarifies the role of the Steele Dossier in the intelligence community's assessments, indicating that it was not a primary basis for the conclusions drawn in the intelligence report. The sources making these claims often exhibit bias and do not provide a balanced view of the facts.

Sources

1. Opinion | Trump is less lucid than normal
2. Fact check: Did former CIA head John Brennan lie under oath ...
3. Exclusive: Brennan May Face Perjury Issues over Russia ...
4. The Case for Perjury Charges Against John Brennan
5. Did John Brennan Perjure Himself Over Steele Dossier?
6. New Details Expose Yet More Infuriating Actions by John ...
7. Exclusive: CIA Ex-Director Brennan's Perjury Peril
8. CIA Ex-Director Brennan's Perjury Peril