U.S. Spies Confirm Parts Of 'Russia Dossier,' But Not (Yet) Pee Hookers Part. Why Are We Paying These People?

WE ARE JUST SAYING.

Just one month after Buzzfeed revealed to the world the Great Big Russian Pee Hookers document that made Donald Trump so mad at the intelligence agencies that he wanted to fire them all, CNN reports that U.S. investigators have finally corroborated some partial details contained in the report by a former British intelligence agent. But not the pee hookers parts at all, which leaves us wondering what kind of screwy priorities these people have. So, fine, no pee hookers, which as we've told you is not the issue here anyway, Dude. Still, considering that both journalists and intelligence sources had been saying none of the document's claims could be confirmed, this is a start, a trickle of intelligence that will no doubt lead to further leaks and doubtless some ruined sheets.

So what has been confirmed? Nothing explosive yet in terms of either the allegations that Russian intelligence has scandalous personal information to blackmail Trump with, or even to confirm the more serious claims that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign. CNN is very careful to say that "None of the newly learned information relates to the salacious allegations in the dossier," so this is not the golden shower we're looking for. Instead, says CNN, the confirmation involves

conversations between foreign nationals. The dossier details about a dozen conversations between senior Russian officials and other Russian individuals. Sources would not confirm which specific conversations were intercepted or the content of those discussions due to the classified nature of US intelligence collection programs.

But the intercepts do confirm that some of the conversations described in the dossier took place between the same individuals on the same days and from the same locations as detailed in the dossier, according to the officials.

As to the actual contents of those conversations between Russians, CNN is apparently not getting any details -- or at least not releasing any -- including whether the conversations related to Donald Trump or his campaign. But it's still a pretty big deal that there's proof the document didn't come out of thin air, either.

The corroboration, based on intercepted communications, has given US intelligence and law enforcement "greater confidence" in the credibility of some aspects of the dossier as they continue to actively investigate its contents, these sources say.

It's not quite blockbuster confirmation of anything but the conversations between Russians, and CNN isn't claiming its sources have verified the claims that various Trump people met with Russian intelligence assets. But it's more verification than there had been before.

US intelligence officials emphasize the conversations were solely between foreign nationals, including those in or tied to the Russian government, intercepted during routine intelligence gathering.

Some of the individuals involved in the intercepted communications were known to the US intelligence community as "heavily involved" in collecting information damaging to Hillary Clinton and helpful to Donald Trump, two of the officials tell CNN.

So it's not quite a smoking gun, but it's something -- maybe Chekhov's Gun? -- and combined with the new details about National Security Advisor Mike Flynn's hot phone sex with the Russian ambassador   during the campaign and afterwards, has to be making things pretty uncomfortable in Trumpland. Not that they'd ever let a little journamalism upset them, of course:

Reached for comment this afternoon, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, "We continue to be disgusted by CNN's fake news reporting."

Real mature, Sean. Oh, but that's not all -- Spicer called CNN back later to tell CNN what it should be reporting on instead:

This is more fake news. It is about time CNN focused on the success the President has had bringing back jobs, protecting the nation, and strengthening relationships with Japan and other nations. The President won the election because of his vision and message for the nation.

Here is Donald Trump strengthening our relationship with Japan Friday:

As to the "jobs" and protecting the nation, we'll let you LOL those all by yourselves.

[ CNN / WaPo ]