Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Thursday night to follow the "dead bodies" of Russians while investigating President Donald Trump's business dealings with Russia.
Wyden was referring to a statement by Clint Watts, a former FBI agent, who said that senators should "follow the dead bodies" while probing Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. Watts claimed that Russians tied to the investigation have been killed or gone missing in recent months, implying that a cover-up is taking place. The former agent did not provide evidence to support his claim.
Wyden referenced Watts' comments while talking to Maddow about the president's finances and business dealings, arguing the same method should be used to look into Trump-Russia ties.
"I'll also tell you that we asked Clint Watts, the former FBI director [sic], about this," Wyden said. "He said, 'You're absolutely right, senator, you ought to be following the money. But you also ought to know that you should follow the trail of the dead bodies.'"
Wyden's description of Watts is incorrect. He was never the director of the FBI.
The Oregon Democrat later doubled down on his "dead bodies" claim.
"As you know, there have been an extraordinary number of press reports, for example in the case of the dossier, and I come back to the dead bodies. There are reports of people who disappeared in connection with that," Wyden said. "There is a real interrelationship between some of the charges and the serious allegations that are made."
The dossier Wyden may have been referring to was one by a former British intelligence agent that alleged Trump had deep ties to Russia. The documents were published by BuzzFeed, which acknowledged the claims about Trump being compromised by Russia were unverified.