The Establishments war on Donald Trump
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Title: British spy behind Trump-Russia dossier could be forced to talk after US court ruling
Source:
ABC News
URL Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/brit ... rced-talk-us/story?id=49271590
Published: Aug 19, 2017
Author: Matthew Mosk, Brian Ross and some broad
Post Date: 2017-08-19 19:16:02 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 5582
Comments: 22
A ruling by Judge Ursula Ungaro allows lawyers for a Russian technology executive named in the dossier to seek British approval to question onetime MI6 agent Christopher Steele about the funding and sourcing of the dossier under oath. The request was made as part of a libel suit brought by Webzilla CEO Aleksej Gubarev against the website Buzzfeed, which was first to publish the dossier Steele prepared. “I suspect that I'll be the first to speak to him,” Gubarev’s attorney, Valentin Gurvits, told ABC News this week. “I know that he is trying very hard to prevent that from happening.” “I think it was disgraceful, disgraceful that the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so false and fake out,” Trump said. Interest in the funding and sourcing for the dossier led the Senate Judiciary Committee to summon Glenn Simpson, the head of the Washington, D.C.-based research firm Fusion GPS that commissioned Steele’s work, to a closed session meeting scheduled for Tuesday. In a letter to Simpson, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, indicated he wants Simpson to reveal who first hired him to investigate Trump’s Russia ties and which government agencies received copies when it was completed. “We are interested in the history of the dossier, including how it was funded, compiled and how it was used,” a Grassley aide told ABC News. “There's certainly plenty of evidence that Russia worked to interfere with our democratic process … but allegations that the Trump campaign was involved stem largely from the contents of a salacious and unverified anti-Trump dossier, whose creation was overseen by Fusion GPS for political purposes,” another Republican Judiciary Committee aide said. “Reports that the FBI then used the dossier as a roadmap for its investigation, attempted to hire the former British spy who was compiling it, and may have relied on it to obtain special surveillance authority raises significant oversight and civil liberties concerns that warrant scrutiny.” A source familiar with the Fusion GPS negotiations with the Senate Judiciary Committee told ABC News that Simpson is ready and willing to answer questions. “Mr. Simpson will participate in a transcribed interview with the committee, and so far is the only person who has been willing to do so,” the source said. Both Simpson and Steele have also been drawn into defamation lawsuits filed by the Russian tech mogul, Gubarev, in Great Britain and in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida. Gubarev’s named appeared in the dossier, which was later published online by Buzzfeed. The dossier alleges that Gubarev had been recruited under duress by Russian agents, and that his company had transmitted viruses, planted bugs, stolen data and conducted “altering operations against the Democratic Party leadership” during the 2016 elections. Gubarev has strongly denied all of those claims. “His response is it is a lie. It is a fabrication,” Gurvits, Gubarev’s attorney, told ABC News. “Never happened.” Buzzfeed initially published the dossier with references to Gubarev but later redacted Gubarev’s name and the name of his company on the copy of the document published by the website. Attorneys for Buzzfeed, Steele and Simpson declined to comment. Gubarev’s lawsuit has attracted attention because his lawyers have expressly stated they want to ask Steele – a former British intelligence officer stationed in Moscow – to identify the sources he relied upon to prepare the dossier. A Russian who lives in Cyprus, Gubarev and his company operates one of the largest web-hosting networks in Europe. In a lengthy interview with ABC News, his lawyer rejected the suggestion that Gubarev is acting as a surrogate for the Kremlin who is attempting to use the U.S. courts to unmask the identities of Steele’s Russian sources. “It's clear that we're not acting on behalf of the Russians,” Gurvits told ABC news. “We are acting on behalf of a businessman who has less ties, frankly, with Russia than he does with the United States. Forty percent of his business comes from the United States. This is not a relationship that a sane person would ever mess with.” If he has the opportunity to take Steele’s sworn testimony, Gurvits said, “my number-one question is, ‘Why was this allegation about my clients included [in the dossier]?” he said. “Where did you get it? What did you do to verify it? And who did you communicate it to?" In June court filings in the United Kingdom, Steele’s attorneys answered the last question, telling the court he shared his findings with a representative of Sen. John McCain. Arrangements were then made through an intermediary to get the document to McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, “so that it was known to … the United States governments at a high level by persons with responsibility for national security,” Steele’s filing in British court says. McCain released a statement in January saying he then “delivered the information to the director of the FBI,” because he had been unable to assess the accuracy of the claims on his own. “That has been the extent of my contact with the FBI or any other government agency regarding this issue.” As for who funded Steele’s research effort in the first place, that remains a mystery. British court records have only identified the clients as a Republican opponent of Trump’s initially, and a Democratic funder later. Grassley aides told ABC News that Judiciary Committee investigators plan to ask Simpson Tuesday to reveal the identity of his clients, but they are not optimistic they will get an answer. Attorneys for Fusion have already indicated to the committee that its client relationships are confidential.
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A U.S. District court judge has put a former British spy one step closer to facing questions under oath about the controversial dossier he authored alleging President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign team plotted with Russian agents. 
The potential interview with Steele is part of a widening effort to pierce the secrecy surrounding the now infamous dossier that raised the first questions about then-candidate Trump’s ties to Russia. The 35-page document contains a range of unverified allegations – some of which have been discredited – laying out a history of ties between several Trump associates and Russia operatives. It also levels salacious claims about Trump’s own behavior during a visit to Moscow in 2013 – claims Trump later refuted and denounced during a Jan. 11 news conference.
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“There's certainly plenty of evidence that Russia worked to interfere with our democratic process …
Evidence or speculation?
Maybe by "interference" they're referring to some kid in Moscow who called the DNC headquarters and asked them if they had Prince Albert in a can.
#2. To: misterwhite (#1)
Maybe by "interference" they're referring to some kid in Moscow who called the DNC headquarters and asked them if they had Prince Albert in a can.
Have no doubt, Russia has interfered in our elections for many decades, just as we meddle in elections all over the world. Putin is still peeved at Hitlery because of how she opposed him returning to the Russian presidency in 2011. This was his revenge. But make no mistake, Russia does want to delegitimize any and all elections because the Russian elite, whether Tsarist or communist or "capitalist", has never had any use for any flavor of "democracy" other than as a propaganda sham to present to the West.
I'm glad we're finally seeing some action out of this judge and out of Grassley.
There's a lot of news going on if you just ignore the crap about tacky Confederate statues that no one really gives a crap about anyway.
Don't believe me? Check out the reporting on the condition of Grant's tomb near Harlem. Full of sewage from street people and empty liquor bottles and also needles and other drug detritus from the addicts. People have sex there, consensual or with hookers. This is Grant, the guy who won the Civil War for the North and was elected president as a result. It was once a bigger tourist attraction than the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State building or any of the rest of the usual NYC tourist traps.
No one really gives much of a crap about any of these Civil War statues and memorials IMO. They want to rant about them and score cheap political points (to #Resist) but they don't actually care much at all.
#3. To: Tooconservative (#2)
Putin is still peeved at Hitlery because of how she opposed him returning to the Russian presidency in 2011. This was his revenge.
1 How do you know what Putin thinks?
2 What exactly was his revenge?
#4. To: A Pole (#3)
2 What exactly was his revenge?
Putin wanted in any way possible to delegitimize Hitlery's election as prez, the same way she did to him as SoS in 2011. As usual, she was working with various Soros front groups and EU intel agencies.
She made it personal for Vlad. But he never expected she would actually lose to Trump or that it was within his power to change an American election outcome.
#5. To: Tooconservative (#2)
Have no doubt, Russia has interfered in our elections for many decades,
No. This last one. In 2016.
None of the investigations have concluded, yet we've placed sanctions on Russia based on some stupid "intelligence" memo which essentially listed the accusations then called them facts.
#6. To: misterwhite (#5)
Russia does love to meddle in elections if they can.
The same way the tsar loved to sail his navy around the world to impress and intimidate other countries. It's a Russian thing, no matter the form of government they're using. They're always in a "Up yours, buddy" mood with foreigners. Kind of a toxic personality trait that their leaders all have.
#7. To: Tooconservative (#4)
What exactly was his revenge?Putin wanted in any way possible to ...
So what exactly has he done? Falsified the election results by hacking voting machines to make Hillary lose?
#8. To: All (#3)
Putin is still peeved at Hitlery because of how she opposed him returning to the Russian presidency in 2011.
How do you know what Putin thinks? Was it in a script your supervisor gave to you?
#9. To: Tooconservative (#6)
loved to sail his navy around the world to impress and intimidate other countries. It's a Russian thing
Strange that no other country has picked this idea. Must be too complex to imitate.
#10. To: A Pole (#9)
As usual, you post off-topic. Thanks for participating, asshole.
#11. To: Tooconservative (#10) (Edited)
As usual, you post off-topic. Thanks for participating, asshole
Sir, I was just quoting and responding to what you wrote. I am sorry that it was off the topic.
Your weaselly wiggling out is quite impressive, BTW.
#12. To: Tooconservative (#10)
Thanks for participating, asshole.
I would never call you "an asshole", Sir. It would not be considerate, especially that you seem to suffer from constipation.
#13. To: Tooconservative, misterwhite (#2)
Have no doubt, Russia has interfered in our elections for many decades, just as we meddle in elections all over the world.
There are many unsubstantiated reports of Russian meddling. Are there any reported results of Russian achievement?
#14. To: Tooconservative (#0)
A U.S. District court judge has put a former British spy one step closer to facing questions under oath about the controversial dossier he authored alleging President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign team plotted with Russian agents.
Steele is former MI6 and in the UK. Only a UK judge will make a real difference.
#15. To: Tooconservative (#2)
Check out the reporting on the condition of Grant's tomb near Harlem. Full of sewage from street people and empty liquor bottles and also needles and other drug detritus from the addicts. People have sex there, consensual or with hookers. This is Grant, the guy who won the Civil War for the North and was elected president as a result.
Grant's tomb is in South Harlem, a few hundred yards outside Harlem proper. It is at 123rd St. The nearest subway stations are at 125th St., the 123 line and the 8th Avenue line (Harlem station). The 8th Avenue stop is maybe 5 or 6 hundred yards away from the Grant monument, and the 123 line perhaps half that.
They really have to tear that thing down. Grant was a slave driver, a president who presided over a bank scandal and a depression. Grant purchased a slave from wife Julia's brother. And during the war to end slavery, his wife Julia would visit him accompanied by one of her slaves. Hey, hey - Ho, ho, U.S. Grant has got to go!
#16. To: nolu chan (#13)
There are many unsubstantiated reports of Russian meddling. Are there any reported results of Russian achievement?
Well, it's reported on a daily basis by libmedia.
Whether anything significant actually happened is another story.
We can assume that even the Russians managed to figure out that Podesta's Gmail password was 'password'. And that they would have penetrated Hitlery's server or bought copies of its contents from other countries or hacking groups since it was an amateurish email setup.
The Russians do maintain an ongoing effort to flood the West's media with Russian propaganda, involving hundreds (possibly thousands) of seminar posters and content creators.
Then there are the sinister "Macedonian content farms" that Hitlery herself complains about.
But, yeah, the Russians love to do this stuff. Just to fuck with us if nothing else. And we have done plenty in return over the decades. Look at Radio Free Europe and other operations (none of which ended when the Cold War did).
#17. To: nolu chan (#15)
They really have to tear that thing down. Grant was a slave driver, a president who presided over a bank scandal and a depression. Grant purchased a slave from wife Julia's brother. And during the war to end slavery, his wife Julia would visit him accompanied by one of her slaves. Hey, hey - Ho, ho, U.S. Grant has got to go!
You are totally woke, dude. LOL
#18. To: nolu chan (#14)
Steele is former MI6 and in the UK. Only a UK judge will make a real difference.
I think the Russian tycoon will get him into court, considering Britain's libel laws.
And since his report was used by Fusion GPS and there were indications that the FBI was going to hire him (apparently to investigate himself), he's in it pretty deep.
And we do have an extradition treaty with Britain.
#19. To: Tooconservative (#16)
We can assume that even the Russians managed to figure out that Podesta's Gmail password was 'password'. And that they would have penetrated[...]
The Russians do maintain an ongoing effort to flood the West's media with Russian propaganda
[...]
But, yeah, the Russians love to do this stuff. Just to fuck with us if nothing else.
For you the standard of proof is "We can assume that". Then you can claim anything that comes to your mind.
Russians do maintain an ongoing effort to flood the West's media with Russian propaganda
By having Sputnik News website, RT channel and hundred bloggers? Is it so easy to overwhelm Western media behemoths?
#20. To: Tooconservative (#16)
We can assume that even the Russians managed to figure out that Podesta's Gmail password was 'password'.
Minor nit. The commonly assigned initial default was p@ssw0rd and the claim is that Podesta never changed it.
https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/22335
This email has also been verified by Google DKIM 2048-bit RSA key2 things
From: eryn.sepp@gmail.com
To: john.podesta@gmail.com
Date: 2015-02-19 00:35
Subject: 2 thingsThough CAP is still having issues with my email and computer, yours is good to go.
jpodesta
p@ssw0rdI warn you, the Windows 8 system is VERY different from what we had back at the WH. Might require a tutorial. It's an operating system that is best with touch screens, which we obviously don't have. If you need tech's help, they're at x5683. Otherwise, I can show you some tricks when I get in. I have it on my home computer, and it took a while to get used to completely.
Second thing, because of the snow day, my makeup passport appt is tomorrow at 8 am nearby State. No clue how long this takes. If you haven't seen it, earlier I sent you your schedule in an attachment. First thing is Roger Altman at 10:45 am. I'll have my phone the whole time and will check email often.
#21. To: Tooconservative (#18)
I think the Russian tycoon will get him into court, considering Britain's libel laws.
It depends on what Steele would talk about and whether it drags MI6 into the conversation. It is not easily predictable.
#22. To: nolu chan (#21)
It'll be fun to see Steele squirming away over his role in Russian tycoon's libel case against him and multiple media outlets. I'd like to see the Russian take down Buzzfeed and others, the same way Gawker was taken down by Hulk Hogan.
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