[1:04 p.m.]
Mr. Donoghue. That was commentary on the YouTube video itself. I wasn't making a remark about the chief of staff or the fact that he forwarded this or anything like that. I had no idea if the chief of staff even looked at this video.
But I did watch the video. It was about a 20-minute YouTube video by this individual who identified himself as Brad Johnson. And it had this very conclusory explanation of how multiple intelligence agencies—U.S., British, and others—conspired to use Italian military satellites to change vote tabulations in the U.S. Presidential election.
And it just seemed to me to be completely off the wall. It was not evidence. It was an internet conspiracy theory that was presented in a very conclusory manner, saying this, in fact, is what happened, without citing to any evidence that supported it.
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Q I see. So it didn't even give rise to anything credible that could be pursued with a factual investigation, in your view?
A No, not in my view.
Q And did the source of it impact that?
There's a discussion on that same email chain, exhibit 22, between you and Mr. Rosen about Brad Johnson and his relationship with Mr. Giuliani. Tell us a little bit more about the fact that Mr. Johnson was involved and his relationship with Giuliani bore upon your evaluation of the credibility of the YouTube video.
A I don't think it bore upon it because I clearly watched the YouTube video and had my response before I got that information about Mr. Johnson being associated with
