CNN spread misinformation to its viewers Friday when a chyron on Wolf Blitzer’s show claimed that an anti-Trump Republican helped fund the Russian dossier.
WATCH:
Reporting on the dossier tells us that a Republican was the first to pay Fusion GPS for opposition research, but that donor was out of the picture by the time Fusion contracted with Christopher Steele to create the dossier.
Host Wolf Blitzer said that a Republican “first established contact” with Fusion GPS, which is correct based on current reports, but the chyron floating below him during the interview claimed that Republican was also behind funding for the dossier. (RELATED: FACT CHECK: Did Republicans Pay For The Trump Dossier?)
“Who’s the anti-Trump Republican who helped fund the dossier?” the chyron misleadingly asks.
Again, Christopher Steele and the dossier did not become a part of the Fusion GPS situation until that Republican ended their contract and the DNC and Clinton campaign took over payment.
Blitzer’s guest, Rep. Sean Duffy, also noted that it has not been independently confirmed that a Republican was the initial Fusion GPS client.
“I don’t think they have credibility,” Duffy said of Fusion GPS. “I have seen no independent verification of that outside of what Fusion GPS said.”