False Assange Claim About Podesta's Password Appears In Senate Hearing On Russian Hacking

Fox News Previously Ran With Assange's Lie

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

In a Senate hearing with top intelligence agency officials on hacking efforts by Russian operatives, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) suggested that he read “more than one published account” that Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's email password was some variation of the word “password.” Blunt's claim orgininates from a January 3 appearance by the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, on Fox News' Hannity, during which Assange falsely claimed that Podesta's email password was “password.” This claim, which was repeated by several Fox figures to deflect from the hacking, was debunked several days ago.

From the January 10 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections:

SEN. ROY BLUNT (R-MO): No evidence -- I think you said Director [James] Comey -- that the Russians were able to get into Trump campaign email or other records or the current RNC records. Is that right?

FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY: That's correct. 

BLUNT: So since we don't believe they got in, the fact that they had nothing to release should not be a shock? 

COMEY: Logically yes, yea.

BLUNT: Since they did not have the records. And we do believe they tried to get in?

COMEY: I can't say with respect to the Trump campaign. With respect to the RNC there is no doubt they hit an RNC domain and so it could be they were aiming at the current one and just missed it and hit an old one. But I can't say for sure sitting here.

BLUNT: Well I do know that the chairman of the RNC -- I heard him say over the weekend he thought they did a better job securing their records whether thats true or not I wouldn't know. I think I did read in one -- more than one published account that the password to Mr. [John] Podesta's email was “password1” with a couple of variations of spelling of using capitals or something and password. So hopefully lots to be learned here and thanks to all of you for your efforts to help us learn it.