5 highlights from the Hunter Biden hearings
FBI officials informed Twitter that the contents of the laptop were authentic
In transcribed-interview testimony to the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Monday, FBI Foreign Influence Task Force Section Chief Laura Dehmlow informed lawmakers that the law enforcement agency told Twitter that the contents of the laptop were, in fact, authentic during a meeting that took place the day of the New York Post story's publication.
As a statement published Thursday explained, "The Post published its story early in the morning on October 14. That same day, representatives from the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force attended a previously scheduled meeting with Twitter, during which a Twitter employee asked about the authenticity of [the] laptop."
During her testimony, Dehmlow recalled what took place during the meeting: "I remember having a conversation with or being involved in a conversation with Twitter, and I honestly can't recall if this was repeated to me – I might have been a few minutes late to the meeting – or if – or if I was – I actually overheard it. But it was – it was relayed to me later that somebody from Twitter – I don't recall who. I'm not sure who. Somebody from Twitter essentially asked whether the laptop was real."
"And one of the FBI folks who was on the call did confirm that, 'yes, it was,' before another participant jumped in and said, 'no further comment,'" she added. However, in a meeting with Facebook that same day, Dehmlow informed the social media company that the company had "no comment" when asked about the authenticity of the Hunter Biden laptop.
When pressed as to who else at the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force knew that the laptop was real, Dehmlow responded, "I would certainly say that [then-FITF Section Chief] Brad Benavides was aware." Regarding the FITF's Russia unit, Dehmlow stated, "I would assume the unit chief was also aware," adding, "I'm pretty certain of that fact."
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com