Durham Still 'Pushing'
That's what the WSJ tells us this morning--but not much else. Let's see.
Alexander Downer, the Aussie "diplomat," says he was recontacted by Durham. Downer says he told Durham that he had nothing to add to what was already on the public record. He declined further comment to reporters.
OK. But how about this:
"Increasingly, investigators are focused on former CIA Director John Brennan, examining whether he pushed for a blunter assessment about Russia's motivations than others in the intelligence community felt was warranted, people familiar with the matter said."
I think we've already heard that Durham was focused on Brennan and the ICA--several times. You've got to like that business about a "blunter assessment." I think Durham wants to know how much of it was pure fiction.
That's pretty much how the article goes--very defensive, pushing the idea that there was no slant to anything the Intel Community did. For example:
"There was no political interference," by Mr. Brennan or anyone else, said a former senior intelligence official involved in preparing the report. A 2004 intelligence overhaul that added new procedures to "tease out and highlight" analysts differences ... "worked perfectly," the official said.
Uh, a "former senior intelligence official"? "Involved in preparing the report"? That could be John Brennan. Or Peter Strzok!
And so it goes. But the good news, if this seems like news to anyone, is that Durham is still on the job, still pushing.