Ex-intelligence official: Napolitano’s British wiretapping claim ‘didn’t get it right’

Larry Johnson, a former intelligence officer, said he served unknowingly as a source of Fox News senior analyst Andrew Napolitano, who incorrectly used his information to back the claim that British intelligence wiretapped Trump Tower.

Johnson, a former CIA analyst and former Fox News contributor, told CNN’s “Reliable Sources” on Sunday that Napolitano made him a source unknowingly and “didn't get it right, [or] accurate either.”

“I think judge should have had a different approach to it,” Johnson added.

Johnson said two sources told him that the British intelligence agency GHCQ had been passing information through back channels about the intelligence community’s meddling in U.S. politics, even before Thursday’s press briefing. That was when Spicer cited allegations Napolitano made — apparently fueled partially by Johnson — earlier in the week on Fox News that the GHCQ had spied on Trump.

“Now, I had known about the fact that the British through GHCQ were passing information back-channel. This was not done at the direction of Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaPatagonia files suit against Trump cuts to Utah monuments Former Dem Tenn. gov to launch Senate bid: report Eighth Franken accuser comes forward as Dems call for resignation MORE. Let's be clear about that. It was being done with the full knowledge of people like John Brennan and Jim Clapper,” Johnson said Sunday.

Johnson said Napolitano used information that he posted in an online discussion board, and falsely said British intelligence wiretapped Trump Tower.

“I'm not saying the British GHCQ was wiretapping Trump's Tower. … [Napolitano] shouldn't have used the word wiretap. I call it an ‘information operation’ that's been directed against President Trump and people like John Brennan,” Johnson said.

Napolitano reportedly directed the New York Times to call Johnson after facing skepticism regarding his U.K. wiretapping claim.  

Johnson said Napolitano used Johnson’s anonymous sources to support his claims.

“I'm hearing it from people who are in a position to know. … I posted that on the discussion board and one of the individuals there shared that with the judge. I don't know what his other sources are. All I know is what I know,” Johnson told CNN.

“What's ironic is I was a Fox News analyst through 2002 to 2003. I never spoke to Judge Napolitano then and I hadn't spoken to him until he called me on Saturday,” Johnson added.

Fox News’s news division says it does not have proof to support Napolitano's claims.