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By Tom Winter, Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins
Last week, special advocate Robert Mueller asked the FBI to investigate a possible scam in which a woman would falsely claim that he had sexually assaulted her, after several political reporters had been contacted about a report about the alleged assault.
A woman has contacted several journalists in recent weeks to tell her that she had received money to say that she had been sexually assaulted by Mueller, the special advocate who is investigating a possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. After investigating, according to Hill Reporter's political website, the reporters each independently determined that the allegation of assault was probably a hoax and that it was unclear whether the woman had received any money to apply. The reporters then contacted the office of the special advocate to report that they had been contacted about the scheme.
"When we learned last week that charges had been given to women about the special advocate, we immediately referred the case to the FBI for investigation," said Peter Carr, spokesperson for the special advocate.
Ed Krassenstein, one of the reporters contacted, said he received threats, including sending a text message saying, "You are above your head … leave that." the personal addresses of another publisher.
At about the same time that reporters began to be informed of the allegations of aggression, Jack Burkman, a Republican lobbyist and radio host, began to report, via his Facebook page, that he was investigating sexual misconduct and alcohol-related allegations against Mueller. On Tuesday morning, he tweeted that he would hold a press conference two days later to "reveal the first sexual assault victims of special advocate Robert Mueller".
Over the past two years, Burkman has peddled a distinct and evolving conspiracy theory, which blamed the death of Democratic staff member Seth Rich on several wild plots, which was shot down on a Washington street in 2016 during of a robbery apparently missed.
Krassenstein told NBC News that he spoke to the special advocate's office Tuesday to tell them what he knew about the sexual assault scheme.
He also gave NBC News phone numbers used by the woman alleging that she had been offered money to make the allegations, which were both disconnected.
Krassenstein and other journalists also reported that Jacob Wohl, a disgraced hedge fund manager turned pro-Trump plot theorist and Surefire Intelligence, a company associated with him, was involved in the alleged Burkman plot.
"I called Burkman. I wanted to know who is "Surefire Intelligence". It was at that time that he spoke to me about Jacob Wohl, "said Krassenstein. "For me, all this was created by someone who is trying to discredit the media."
Wohl tweeted early this morning: "Several media sources have told me that a scandalous story about Mueller would break out tomorrow. Should be interesting. Stay tuned! "
Struck by a direct message on Twitter, Wohl denied participating in any plot to pay women making false allegations against Mueller. "I am not involved in any investigation of any kind. I'm not that cool, "he said.
The allegations have always taken off as viral publications on far right news sites known to spread false information and misinformation related to Wohl. Gateway Pundit, where Wohl is employed as a writer, extolled their "exclusive papers" about a "very credible witness".
In a statement, Surefire Intelligence tweeted that she "does not comment on current, past or future operations, nor their absence".
Wohl declined to comment on his involvement with Surefire Intelligence. However, his email is contained in the domain registrations of the Surefire Intelligence website and calls to a number on the Surefire Intelligence website went to a voice message indicating another phone number, listed in public records. as belonging to Wohl's mother.
Wohl stopped responding to NBC News after learning that Surefire's official phone numbers were redirected to his mother's voicemail.
Adiel Kaplan contributed.
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