Reports: FBI Probing If N.Y. Post’s Hunter Biden Email Dump Was Part Of Foreign Influence Campaign

Topline

Federal investigators are looking into whether a set of unverified emails purported to be to and from Joe Biden’s son Hunter that were published in a New York Post article this week were part of a foreign disinformation campaign, the Associated Press and NBC News reported.

Key Facts

Key Background

The Post touted the story, which has drawn widespread skepticism and has not been verified by any other major media outlets, as a “smoking gun” and an “exposé.” It aimed to back up a discredited and largely evidence-free conspiracy theory advanced by Giuliani that Joe Biden abused his power to bolster his son’s business endeavors in Ukraine, a narrative which emerged last year when Trump was accused of strongarming the Ukrainian government into digging up damaging information about Biden. The theory’s ties to foreign intelligence are well-known: a Ukrainian lawmaker and alleged “active Russian agent” who met with Giuliani last year was a prolific spreader of misleading information about Biden. Now, it appears the FBI is exploring a possible foreign connection to the New York Post’s story as well.

Surprising Fact

Giuliani’s possible ties to Russian operatives have reportedly made U.S. intelligence officials nervous. The U.S. National Security Advisor warned Trump about Giuliani’s foreign connections last year, the Washington Post reported Thursday, though the president appeared unfazed and unsurprised by the issue, responding “that’s Rudy.”

Tangent

Despite the lack of verification, Trump and his political allies are interested in the Post’s story and have criticized efforts by Facebook and Twitter to limit its spread. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) claimed the social media platforms were covering up “allegations of corruption.”

Further Reading

Feds examining whether alleged Hunter Biden emails are linked to a foreign intel operation (NBC News)

Biden email episode illustrates risk to Trump from Giuliani (Associated Press)

White House was warned Giuliani was target of Russian intelligence operation to feed misinformation to Trump (Washington Post)

Facebook, Twitter Limit Reach Of Article About Hunter Biden (Forbes)