Bombshell dossier appears to have been directly funded by Democrats.
One of the central pieces of the on-going investigation into President Trump’s alleged connections to Russia is a dossier that began circulating during the 2016 Presidential election. It’s long been known that the research was privately funded, and that Democrats and GOP rivals were involved. However, it was believed that outside groups, rather than campaigns, were funding the research.
Now, evidence is emerging that the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) both directly paid for the research. The payments were made to Fusion GPS, who then paid former British Intelligence Officer Christopher Steele to conduct the research and write the dossier.
The Trump-Russia Dossier alleges that Russia has been cultivating Trump for at least 5 years. The report also alleges that Russia has compromising information on Trump.
At one point, the FBI apparently considered paying Steele to conduct his research. It appears that these plans were nixed after they become the attention of intense media scrutiny. President Trump has slammed the FBI for paying Steele, however, there is no evidence that the organization actually went through with payments.
The FBI has reviewed the dossier closely, and has confirmed some of the content in it. Many of the more sensational accusations, however, have not been proven.
Supposedly, Russian Intelligence has gathered evidence of Trump engaged in perverse sexual acts. Allegedly, Russia offered Trump various real estate deals, which he declined.
The Clinton campaign and DNC both used lawyer Marc E. Elias and the Perkins Coie law firm to retain the services of Fusion GPS. Before working with Democrats, Fusion GPS was being paid by an unknown Republican client. Most likely, this client was connected to one or more of the Republican primary challengers.
Opposition research is not uncommon during Presidential elections. However, the use of Fusion GPS and Steele, in particular, are raising eyebrows. Many of the allegations against President Trump center around alleged foreign interference and influence. It’d be ‘ironic’ then if his opponents had contracted with foreign operators to put together a hit piece.
The Dossier also alleges that Trump had been receiving intelligence on Hillary Clinton.
Some have alleged that the DNC and other parties who worked with Steele were “colluding.” Given that Steele appears to have been a lone individual, and that Britain is our ally, collusion would be difficult to prove. However, others have alleged that Fusion GPS has connections to Russia.
Supposedly, GPS ran a smear campaign against Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian whistle blower who uncovered $230 million in tax left. Magnitsky would later die in a Russian prison. Magnitsky worked for Hermitage Capital Management, which alleges that Fusion GPS assisted the Kremlin in running a smear campaign.
What is the Trump-Russia Dossier?
The Trump-Russia Dossier alleges that Russia has been cultivating Trump for at least 5 years. The report also alleges that Russia has compromising information on Trump. Supposedly, Russian Intelligence has gathered evidence of Trump engaged in perverse sexual acts. These acts, among other pieces of information, allegedly give Russia enough leverage to blackmail the President.
Allegedly, the Trump campaign in the US used moles to assist Russia in compromising the DNC.
Allegedly, Russia offered Trump various real estate deals, which he declined. The Dossier also alleges that Trump had been receiving intelligence on Hillary Clinton. According to the report, Russia has been keeping tabs on Clinton for years.
The report totals about 35 pages, and makes a wide range of allegations. It “confirms” that Russia was behind the Wikileaks email leaks of the DNC. It also alleges that Russian diplomatic staff in the United States interfered with the election and that the Trump campaign in the US used moles to assist Russia in compromising the DNC.
