Trump national security pick Monica Crowley repeatedly pushed conspiracy theory about Clinton aide
By Andrew Kaczynski, CNN
Updated 12:18 PM ET, Fri December 16, 2016
(CNN) "Fox News analyst Monica Crowley, Donald Trump's pick to be senior director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, repeatedly pushed an unfounded conspiracy theory that claimed Hillary Clinton's aide Huma Abedin has ties to Islamic extremists.
"The claim, which circulated among far-right websites, has been labeled as false and unfounded by fact-checkers from the
Washington Post,
Politifact, and
Snopes.
"Claims Abedin was tied to the Muslim Brotherhood are based on flimsy connections tying together people and events from decades ago. Crowley made the charge in radio appearances, columns, and on Fox News over the years, a CNN KFile review found.
"The claims have also been strongly rebutted by high profile Republicans. Former House Speaker John Boehner called the accusations "pretty dangerous" and then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers called Abedin an "American patriot." The allegations received a passionate
rebuke from Republican Sen. John McCain on the Senate floor.
"Still, Crowley pushed it repeatedly. An email seeking comment sent to a Trump transition spokesperson, Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Crowley was not immediately returned."
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