Peter W. Smith

Peter W. Smith
Born	Template:Birth date Portland, Maine, U.S.
Died	May 14, 2017(2017-05-14) (aged 81) Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Investment banker, political operative
Known for	Involvement in 2016 U.S. election opposition research efforts; promoting 1993 Troopergate allegations

Peter W. Smith (February 23, 1936 – May 14, 2017) was a seasoned American investment banker who spent four decades managing corporate acquisitions and venture capital projects. He was deeply involved in Republican politics and played a notable role in promoting the 1993 Troopergate allegations against President Bill Clinton.

In 2017, Smith revealed to The Wall Street Journal that he collaborated with former national security advisor Michael Flynn in attempts to reach out to hackers—including those linked to Russia—to gather opposition research on Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race. He died by suicide in Minnesota ten days following the interview, citing declining health as a factor.

Early life and education

Smith was born in Portland, Maine and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University, followed by an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Career

Between 1969 and 1980, Smith held a senior executive position at Field Enterprises, Inc. He subsequently founded Peter W. Smith & Company, which specialized in buyout deals from 1975 until 1997. From 1997 through 2014, he acted as Managing Member of DigaComm, LLC, focusing on early-stage venture capital investments. At the time of his passing, he held the title of Chairman Emeritus at Corporate Venture Alliances, LLC.

Political involvement

Smith served as national chairman of the College Young Republicans and participated on the boards of the Atlantic Council of the United States. He was also engaged with organizations such as The Heritage Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Brookings Institution. As a major donor and fundraiser for the Republican National Committee, GOPAC, and various candidates, he contributed over $100,000 to Newt Gingrich’s GOPAC between 1989 and 1995, ranking him among its leading benefactors.

In 1993, Smith facilitated meetings between Arkansas state troopers and conservative author David Brock, enabling reports concerning alleged extramarital activities by then-Governor Bill Clinton. The following year, he established a "Troopergate Whistle Blower Fund," raising approximately $40,000 to assist with the troopers’ legal expenses; overall, he invested around $80,000 in the effort, including payments to Brock. Smith characterized these initiatives as an independent endeavor aimed at encouraging media scrutiny of Clinton.

Emails sent by Smith to the Illinois Republican Party surfaced in a 2015 cyberattack attributed to Russian intelligence via DCLeaks. In 2017, he admitted to The Wall Street Journal that during the 2016 election cycle he actively sought deleted emails from Hillary Clinton’s private server. Smith acknowledged his connections with individuals likely associated with Russian authorities and urged online communities to pass any discovered emails to WikiLeaks. To support this mission, Smith established Delaware-registered KLS Research LLC in September 2016 and opened an account at Northern Trust.

Smith worked alongside cybersecurity professionals including Eric York, Matt Tait, and members of the Flynn Intel Group, linked to Michael Flynn—his business partner since November 2015. He reached out to hacker collectives such as Guccifer 2.0 and was advised by Charles Johnson to contact Andrew Auernheimer (known as Weev). According to the Mueller Report, after July 27, 2016—following President Trump’s public call for Russia to locate Clinton’s emails—Trump campaign adviser Mike Flynn asked Smith to pursue these efforts. Smith engaged with multiple hacker groups, including those connected to Russia, but expressed doubts about the authenticity of their materials and recommended forwarding them to WikiLeaks.

As part of his activities, Smith raised at least $100,000 and personally donated $50,000 toward the "Washington Scholarship Fund for Russian students." He maintained close relations with Sam Clovis and ran a blog under his own name.

Personal life

Smith resided in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was married to Janet, and together they had three children and three grandchildren at the time of his passing.

Death

On May 14, 2017, Smith passed away in a hotel close to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, just one day after an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Nine days afterward, his body was discovered with a helium source connected to a bag over his head. The medical examiner determined the cause of death as "asphyxiation due to displacement of oxygen in confined space with helium". Authorities found a suicide note indicating "no foul play whatsoever," referencing declining health and an impending expiration of his life insurance policy.

See also

• Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections