The Short Version
This claim rests entirely on a single unverified allegation by former CIA analyst Larry Johnson, who subsequently acknowledged on his own blog that he has no confirmation the report is verified. Every outlet citing the story — tabloid write-ups and YouTube commentary — traces back to the same podcast appearance, creating an illusion of corroboration through repetition rather than independent sourcing. No official records, credible investigative reporting, or on-the-record participants support the claim.