'Criminals': Outrage as ex-official denies retracting attack over Hunter Biden's laptop in a letter signed by 51 former officials

WASHINGTON, DC: James Clapper, a former top intelligence official, responded with a single word when asked if he would retract his signature from a letter he and 51 other former officials signed warning that Hunter Biden's infamous "laptop from hell" was Russian disinformation.

Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence in the Obama administration, signed the heavily scrutinized letter just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, claiming the laptop had "all the earmarks" of a Russian effort to influence the vote.

James Clapper did not concede he, along with 51 officials, should have waited before signing the letter 

Clapper was asked if he regretted signing the letter back then as it was now determined by the prosecutors the laptop had evidence on it about Hunter Biden's crimes and Clapper said, "No," according to Fox News.

He also refused to remove his name from the letter publicly and would not concede that he and the other former intelligence officials should have waited longer before weighing in.

The laptop, filled with videos and photos of drug use, other personal acts, and sensitive business communications, is being used as evidence.

The contents from the laptop were shown to a jury in Delaware as prosecutors are trying to make a point Hunter lied on federal forms when "illegally" purchasing the gun as a high-profile trial continues. 

Joe Biden's campaign vigorously refused the contents of laptop in weeks leading to the 2020 election 

Joe Biden's campaign vigorously denied its legitimacy in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election when reports surfaced, according to the station.

The publication noted the campaign appeared to be coordinating the release of the letter signed by Clapper which was published days before a debate between Biden and Trump.

During the debate, Biden claimed, "There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what he’s accusing me of is a Russian plant."

Internet outraged at letter suggesting Hunter Biden's laptop was 'Russian disinformation' 

Critics took to social media to blast Clapper and others following revelations that the laptop would be entered into evidence.

"No one is above the law, except: James Clapper — lied to Congress/never charged," political science professor Nicholas Giordano wrote in a post on X, referring to Clapper previously being accused of perjury when he testified before Congress that the Obama administration was "not wittingly" collecting Americans' telephone records.

"It was an intelligence community coup," wrote another X user, suggesting the letter's timing was meant to influence the 2020 election.

"This is treason flat out they all are," wrote one more. "Strip his pension/security clearance, at the very least. To me, he’s a traitor, as are the rest of the signers of that letter, to this country," wrote another.

"Hopefully he will stand by it when he is in prison," commented another X user.

"51. Criminals! They all lied to us!" wrote one more. "Then arrest him for election interference," demanded another. "All 51 should be charged and tried for Treason. It’s that simple," wrote one.

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