Tensions flared on Thursday's episode of Fox News' "The Five" as co-hosts Kellyanne Conway, Jesse Watters, and guest Jessica Tarlov clashed over the implications of newly declassified documents concerning the 2016 Russia-Trump investigation. The documents, released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have reignited discussions about the validity of the claims that then-presidential candidate Donald Trump colluded with Russia to influence the election outcome.
The release, announced earlier in the week by Gabbard, included a 44-page report that reevaluates intelligence assessments from the final months of the Obama administration and the beginning of Trump's tenure. This report challenges previous assertions about Russia's involvement in the election and raises questions about the handling of intelligence by high-ranking officials.
One particular point of contention was a memo included in the release that suggested the Obama-era intelligence community intentionally suppressed a joint FBI and NSA press release. Issued just weeks before the 2016 election, the press release indicated "low confidence" in Russia's involvement in the data leaks that year. The memo alleges that former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and the Department of Homeland Security played roles in withholding this information from the public.
During the heated exchange on "The Five," Jesse Watters confronted Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov, questioning whether she had fully read the declassified report. Tarlov admitted to not having read the entire document, which led to Watters emphasizing its significance and summarizing its contents. He stated that the report refuted claims of Russian President Vladimir Putin's preference for Trump, his attempts to aid Trump's campaign, and the existence of compromising material on Trump.
Tarlov pushed back, maintaining that Putin did favor Trump over Hillary Clinton, but Watters countered by citing the report's conclusions. The debate took a sharp turn when the Steele dossier was brought into the discussion. This controversial document, compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, was a foundational element in the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign and was included in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment.
The dossier's credibility has been widely disputed, and Gabbard's memo adds to the controversy by stating that former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are under criminal investigation for their conduct during the intelligence handling.
Kellyanne Conway's frustration was palpable as she criticized the broader intelligence community and the media for perpetuating what she deemed to be a false narrative of collusion. She highlighted the personal and financial toll the investigation took on individuals within Trump's orbit and lambasted the media for its extensive coverage of the issue.
The conversation also touched on the 2019 Mueller report, which documented Russian interference efforts but did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump and Russia. While Conway and Watters dismissed the report, Tarlov cited it as evidence of Russian interference, albeit without proving collusion.
The segment concluded with Conway attributing Trump's victory to the shortcomings of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, rather than any alleged foreign interference. She argued that Trump's win was a result of his campaign's focus on key American regions and dismissed the accusations of collusion as political tactics against Trump.
