To summarize: Smith had no proof of Trump–Russia collusion, no proof the Clinton e-mails were hacked, no proof that any e-mails any hackers claimed to possess were the real thing, and no proof that the hackers — assuming they really were hackers — were tied to the Kremlin.

So why is this a story? Because, while Smith did not tell the Journal that Flynn was involved in his “project,” he apparently told other people that he was “talking to Flynn.” He “implied” to other people that Flynn, Flynn’s son, and Flynn’s private intel firm were interested in Hillary’s e-mails.

And why wouldn’t Flynn have been interested?

Other than the media, who wasn’t interested?