In the case of Bellingcat, it appears to have been used as a public front for the CIA to release information that they wanted out there publically using parallel construction[1]
[1] https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/12/17/bellingcat-can-say-what...
Other links of interest :
https://declassifieduk.org/cia-sidekick-gives-2-6m-to-uk-med...
https://thegrayzone.com/2021/03/24/author-bellingcat-opcw-wh...
https://www.mintpressnews.com/bellingcat-intelligence-agenci...