Larry Johnson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Larry C. Johnson, American political commentator and former CIA analyst.

In Their Own Story

In 1998, Johnson commented on Osama bin Laden, saying bin Laden was possessed by 'hatred and craziness', and if left unanswered, 'he would continue to terrorize Americans around the world.' In July 2001, two months before the September 11 attacks, Johnson wrote a New York Times op-ed titled 'The Declining Terrorist Threat', arguing that 'terrorism is not the biggest security challenge confronting the United States.' In 2008, Johnson became best known for spreading a hoax that Michelle Obama had been videotaped using a slur against Caucasians. In 2013, he falsely accused John Kerry of war crimes in Vietnam, alleging that Kerry had 'raped some poor Vietnamese woman.' In March 2017, Johnson was the source for Andrew Napolitano's claim that British intelligence wiretapped Donald Trump. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Johnson has made regular appearances on Russian media and expressed support for its war effort. In March 2025, Johnson was one of three media personalities invited to interview Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Reader's Guide

Johnson's views evolved significantly over time. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he de-emphasized the threat from terrorism, but in 1998 he called bin Laden possessed by 'hatred and craziness'. In 2003, Johnson said that while he did not condone torture, he suggested that a 'sleep deprivation and reward system' might be useful for getting information from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. In May 2003, Johnson joined members of VIPS in condemning the manipulation of intelligence for political purposes. He became a strong critic of the Bush administration in May 2003 for its conduct of the war in Iraq and, a few months later, for its role in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson. In a July 2006 post at Daily Kos, Johnson harshly criticized ex-CIA analyst Michael Scheuer and called Israel's invasion of Lebanon 'stupid.' In October 2003, he appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss the Plame affair and told interviewer Amy Goodman that Valerie Wilson's cover should have been respected 'whether she was an analyst or a cleaning lady.'

Did You Know?

• Johnson worked at the CIA for four years as an analyst before moving to the State Department's Office of Counterterrorism.
• In July 2001, two months before the September 11 attacks, Johnson wrote a New York Times op-ed titled 'The Declining Terrorist Threat'.
• Johnson is known under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as registrant number 7487.
• In March 2025, Johnson was one of three media personalities invited to interview Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
• Johnson was the source for Andrew Napolitano's March 2017 claim that British intelligence wiretapped Donald Trump.