The Note: Unverified Claims Causing Commotion

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January 11, 2017

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Unverified Claims Causing Commotion

FBI Investigating Unconfirmed Claims That Trump Was Personally Compromised by the Russians

Explosive but unsubstantiated allegations suggesting Donald Trump was compromised by Russian agents and in league with Russian hackers appeared in a dossier given to the FBI in August by democratic political operatives who later gave it news organizations including ABC News. The document has circulated within the intelligence community and was reportedly raised last week during classified intelligence briefings to both President Obama and President-elect Trump, ABC's BRIAN ROSS and MATTHEW MOSK report. Trump and his aides expressed outrage yesterday that anyone would take the uncorroborated reports seriously. http://abcn.ws/2ibbouT

Analysis - ABC's RICK KLEIN

"WITCH HUNT!" President-elect Donald Trump declared on Twitter. The phrase was repeated – though the capitalization doesn't translate – by a spokesman for the Kremlin. But what if something real emerges from the hocus-pocus? The dossier on supposed Russian dirt on Trump raises questions for Trump, though few should expect he will answer them to any satisfaction. The answers he gives Wednesday will be instructive (does praise for Putin disappear? does he question the motives of intelligence agencies?) though hardly conclusive. That will leave the digging and the answering to Congress, where pressure will grow for a special, bipartisan, joint House-Senate committee. If the allegations were serious enough for Sen. John McCain to hand off to FBI Director James Comey, surely they demand special congressional attention. It's a defining moment for Trump. Ditto for the legislative branch, as the nation sees either a massive smear or an unparalleled international scandal play off just days before a new president takes office.

On GMA - Kellyanne Conway Calls Unverified Documents 'Nonsense From the Internet'

Donald Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway today called the allegations that the president-elect was compromised by Russian agents and that his aides were in cahoots with Russian hackers "unsubstantiated, uncorroborated." "This is a report from the internet, not from the intelligence community, these 35 pages rife with misspellings, completely unverified," Conway said on "Good Morning America" today. http://abcn.ws/2j7mxwl

Happening Today - Trump to Hold Long-Awaited Press Conference on Businesses

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to hold a long-anticipated press conference Wednesday where he has pledged to outline how he will separate himself from his vast business empire amid questions about potential conflicts of interest, ABC's ALEXANDER MALLIN notes. The press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. E.T. in New York City. Today marks 167 days since Trump last held a formal press conference. http://abcn.ws/2ifodPQ

Rex Tillerson Set for Confirmation Showdown with Democrats

Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next secretary of state, is set to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 9 a.m. ET today for the first of a two-day confirmation hearing. The multimillionaire former CEO of ExxonMobil has emerged as one of Trump's more controversial nominees -- largely because of his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin -- but until today Tillerson has yet to have the opportunity to defend himself in a public forum, ABC's JUSTIN FISHEL reports. http://abcn.ws/2jDipVB

'Yes We Did,' Obama Says in Farewell Address, but Warns of Threats to Democracy

"Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can." With these words, President Obama wrapped up the farewell remarks of the presidency with the same soaring rhetoric of hope that he rode into the White House eight years ago. The president took the opportunity of the speech to a crowd in his adopted hometown of Chicago to thank to the American people for the opportunity to serve as president for two terms. "Every day, I learned from you," the president said. "You made me a better President, and you made me a better man." The president made mention of some of his key accomplishments and thanked those who have stood by his side through the past eight years, especially his family, for which he offered an emotional tribute as well as Vice President Joe Biden and the military. ABC's JORDYN PHELPS has more. http://abcn.ws/2jcXqpj FULL REMARKS of Obama's farewell speech here: http://abcn.ws/2j5WfdW

The Obama Legacy: A Promise of Hope

As Obama turns over the mantle of the presidency to Donald Trump, ABC News examines his legacy. ABC's GARY WESTPHALEN and SERENA MARSHALL have more: http://abcn.ws/2iY79zT