Chris Steele (dossier) was interviewed for 16hrs by DOJ while trump was in UK

[Roland99]

Link to tweet

NEW: Chris Steele was interviewed for 16 hours in June by DOJ investigators. The 2-day interview took place in London while Trump was in UK. It was contentious at first, but investigators ultimately found Steele’s testimony credible—and even surprising https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/09/christopher-steele-trump-dossier-doj-1403318

The extensive, two-day interview took place in London while Trump was in Britain for a state visit, the sources said, and delved into Steele’s extensive work on Russian interference efforts globally, his intelligence-collection methods and his findings about Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, who the FBI ultimately surveilled. The FBI’s decision to seek a surveillance warrant against Page — a warrant they applied for and obtained after Page had already left the campaign — is the chief focus of the probe by Horowitz.

The interview was contentious at first, the sources added, but investigators ultimately found Steele’s testimony credible and even surprising. The takeaway has irked some U.S. officials interviewed as part of the probe — they argue that it shouldn’t have taken a foreign national to convince the inspector general that the FBI acted properly in 2016. Steele’s American lawyer was present for the conversation.

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[UTUSN]

2. "CREDIBLE" - of course!

[former9thward]

8. No source for that.

The FBI fired him in 2016 because he could not stop talking to the media. Mueller mentions Steele in one footnote in 400 pages. He did not rely on him.

[UTUSN]

11. No source for credibility? Google shows multiple news items citing "credibility"

Reuters, Daily Beast, Politico, more. That his credibility was the reason for extending the probe.

[former9thward]

22. There is no source in the OP at all for what the investigators "thought."

None. The fact is the FBI (under Obama) fired him. Mueller ignored him.

[UTUSN]

24. The end result of investigations is what the investigators thought.

But as I now remember, our previous 2-3 encounters have all ended in food fights, I should have opted out from the start.

[rockfordfile]

20. That's Mueller fault. Mueller is a big disappointment to his country. A typical far right republican

[sir pball]

21. Credible in a Wikipedia way.

He seems to have done a lot.of the legwork is assembling disparate, truly credible leads into a handy compendium. Absolutely unreliable as a primary source - Wikipedia is open to anyone and Steele is pretty much just a very good PI - but almost indispensable for finding them. Mueller directly mentions Steele once, but no telling how many of Mueller's leads/sources originated with Steele.

[former9thward]

23. And Mueller said there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

That was Part One -- remember. So much for the "leads/sources originated with Steele".

[sir pball]

26. There was no collusion, in the legal sense.

Capital-C Collusion was never even on the table for Mueller, as a prosecutor. Was there conspiracy? I'd apply the Mueller argument that the Trump campaign probably did try to conspire but were too much of a clown car to actually do it. Was there obstruction? Absolutely. I understand Mueller's equivocation on the issue since the current DOJ would certainly take the "can't indict a sitting President" tack, and the Court would likely uphold it. I'm interested in his testimony; he didn't put up a fight against the subpoenas, he might have something interesting to say.

And of course there's the continuing criminal investigations, and counterintelligence stuff, that could have leads off the dossier. I think it was useful, just not in the way people would expect.

[MFGsunny]

3. K & R for visibility .... n/t

[Me.]

4. Here's What The Politico Report Says

"His work was funded in part by a law firm that represented the Democratic National Committee"

Thereby leaving out any of the relevant participation of the Republicans who were the first to hire Fusion GPS and hence Steele to get dirt on the traitor for the benefit of Jeb. When it was realized that Jeb wasn't going to make it the Cons stopped paying and the Dems took over. But note how Politico made no mention of Republican involvement. This has been pretty common throughout the reporting on Steele.

[Perseus]

7. Correct, does politico has an contact email?

We should emailed them for them to make a correction, at least they would know we know the real story.

I have seen, even in MSNBC when a republicans says it and the host do not correct them. That is how the news gets distorted, the republican lies and the news fail to correct them, so the lie prevails.

[stopdiggin]

14. Repubs hired Fusion, but ...

but Steele came on (through Fusion?) after the hand off to the Dems. Does this make a difference? Probably only to the spin-merchants and Hannitys. The much larger truth here is WHAT he found and that he brought his information forward to law enforcement and intelligence officials on both sides of the Atlantic (as well as certain media and influential politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle). And what he had to say shocked and worried the hell out of everyone that he came in contact with. (with the possible exception of Mitch McConnell) But I think it does help when our side knows what it is talking about.

[Me.]

25. To My Mind NO, As It Was Part Of A Continuum Started By THe Cons

GPS was hired by the Beacon in 2015, then tHey stopped funding in April and the Peaks Cole picked it up the same month. Steele was then hired to compile the dossier and further the research. And not to mention the Cons in any report is a lapse as it sounds like the Dems were the only ones who wanted dirt on the traitor. Further, nowhere is it mentioned that the completed dossier was then given to McCain who was the one who brought it to the attention of the FBI

[stopdiggin]

31. for the most part I agree

You are right in every respect except that factually Steele's work was financed by Dems. (and opposition research is an established political tool. nothing at all nefarious about it. no reason for Dems to be ashamed. but this part of the deal was the Dems.) I too would like to see a more nuanced (and complete) story told. And I have no problem in advocating for a better job by our media. But I also advocate that our side (DU community) not be satisfied with half-truths and "shading" a story to suit our brand.

[JonLP24]

33. Where is the source that Steele was only involved with the Dam side of things

From what I understand he continued his research even when there was no funding.

[stopdiggin]

35. there are several available chronologies. all agree

this from Wikipedia:
"In October 2015, Fusion GPS was contracted by conservative political website The Washington Free Beacon to provide general opposition research on Trump and other Republican presidential candidates. In April 2016, an attorney for Hillary Clinton's campaign and the DNC separately hired Fusion GPS to investigate Trump, while The Free Beacon stopped its backing in May of 2016.[2] In June 2016, Fusion GPS subcontracted Steele's firm to compile the dossier. Clinton campaign and DNC officials denied knowing their attorney had contracted with Fusion GPS, and Steele asserted he was not aware the Clinton campaign was the recipient of his research until months after he contracted with Fusion GPS.[9][10] Following Trump's election as president, funding from Clinton and the DNC ceased, but Steele continued his research and was reportedly paid directly by Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn R. Simpson.[11] While compiling the dossier, Steele passed information to both British and American intelligence services.[12][13]"

[Roland99]

28. Nice catch

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. Barr will still try and spin this

To damage Steele’s and Meuller’s credibility

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Is this part of Trump/Barr's "counter Mueller investigation"?

n/t

[NewJeffCT]

13. which one?

there are at least 3 of them going on

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. I guess whichever one would be potentially looking at Steele

and his "nefarious" role in trying to scandalize Trump.

[Roland99]

30. I believe it was. We all know those are exercises in futility

Only serving to feed the base

[FakeNoose]

9. We need to see the un-redacted version of the Steele dossier

Somebody please leak this - soon!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

32. been available for quite a while

https://archive.org/stream/TheSteelDossierTrumpIntelligenceAllegations/The%20Steele%20Dossier%20-%20Trump-Intelligence-Allegations_djvu.txt

[Edit to add: ]
Oops. Buzzfeed first published it:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kenbensinger/these-reports-allege-trump-has-deep-ties-to-russia

[FakeNoose]

34. Yes those are the redacted version

The feds have blacked out the important names and details. I want to see the un-redacted version that was originally written by Christopher Steele and turned over to the FBI. Doesn't everyone else?

[certainot]

10. some details will be distorted and leaked to limbaugh, who will ensure this goes their way

in time to discredit mueller on 1500 coordinated radio stations reaching 50 mil a week.

[Scarsdale]

12. This is laughable,

Limbaugh is a known pedophile, yet the listeners to his bile listen to him still. He should have been off the air years ago. Fat dope addict pervert is a disgrace. Seems those are the type of people the tRump ass kissers really like. Limbaugh abused drugs to the point that he lost his hearing. Had to have cochlear implants. Who knew Viagra has a side effect so severe? I guess if you need a suitcase full for a short vacation, it is harmful.

[maryellen99]

18. I bet Limbaugh has ties to Epstein nt

[Scarsdale]

19. Only if

young brown BOYS are part of the deal. Limbaugh likes going to the Dominican Republic for that reason.

[Raster]

27. Jeff Christie does what?

[elias7]

15. Would love to see the transcript

I'd bet his testimony is damning to Trump, and it certainly sounds encouraging that investigators found his testimony surprising. PEOPLE, OPEN YOUR EYES!!!! I don't mean DU people, of course...

[triron]

16. Nadler needs to subpoena it.

[onecaliberal]

29. K&R