Fusion GPS pens NY Times Op Ed

ReverendHellh0und said:

So you don't believe there is any evidence of collusion between russia and trump?

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How would I know? Until any results of the investigation are released, anyone that says they know trump colluded or know that he didn't collude is just speculating.

What I believe is that Trump has financial ties to Russian Oligarchs. That's just speculation though.

Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) has a few interesting questions he posted a few hours ago.
Maybe Nunes will get the answers soon. (grin)


1) Did the FBI pay Christopher Steele, author of the dossier?

2) Was the dossier the basis for securing FISA warrants to spy on Americans? And why won’t the FBI show Congress the FISA application?

3) When did the FBI get the complete dossier and who gave it to them?

Dossier author Christopher Steele?
Fusion GPS?
Clinton campaign/DNC?
Sen. McCain’s staffer?

4) Did the FBI validate and corroborate the dossier?

5) Did Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, or Bruce Orr work on the FISA application?

6) Why and how often did DOJ lawyer Bruce Orr meet with dossier author Christopher Steele during the 2016 campaign?

7) Why did DOJ lawyer Bruce Orr meet with Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson after the election? To get their story straight after their candidate Clinton lost? Or to double down and plan how they were going to go after President-elect Trump?

8) When and how did the FBI learn that DOJ lawyer Bruce Orr’s wife, Nellie Orr, worked for Fusion GPS? And what exactly was Nellie Orr’s role in putting together the dossier?

9) Why did the FBI release text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page? Normally, ongoing investigation is reason not to make such information public.

10) And why did FBI release only 375/10,000+ texts? Were they the best? Worst? Or part of a broader strategy to focus attention away from something else? And when can Americans see the other 96% of texts?

11) Why did Lisa Page leave Mueller probe two weeks before Peter Strzok? This was two weeks before FBI and Special Counsel even knew about the texts.

12) Why did the intelligence community wait two months after the election to brief President-elect Trump on the dossier (January 6, 2017)? Why was James Comey selected to do the briefing?

13) Was the briefing done to “legitimize” the dossier? And who leaked the fact that the briefing was about the dossier?

14) The New York Times reported last week that George Popadopoulos’ loose lips were a catalyst for launching the Russia investigation. Was President-elect Trump briefed on this?

15) Why did Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson meet with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya before and after her meeting with Donald Trump Jr.?

16) Why was FBI General Counsel Jim Baker reassigned two weeks ago? Was he the source for the first story on the dossier by David Corn on October 31, 2016? Or was it someone else at the FBI?

17) Why won’t the FBI give Congress the documents it’s requesting?

18) And why would @SenSchumer, leader of the Democrat party, publicly warn President-elect Trump on Jan. 3, 2017 that when you mess with the “intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you?”

It doesn’t work that way in America. We are not ruled by unelected bureaucrats, police forces, or intelligence agencies. In America, We The People ELECT officials who govern.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/948567146279374849.html

apdst said:

Why won't Fusion answer Congress' subpoena?

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Because they saw Benghazi 8.0 and are not idiots.

They testified, and the Republicans are keeping it secret, rather then making it public.
Fusion wants it made public now that Republicans are lying about it.
"Republicans better hope there are no tapes!" Oops, there are records of their testimony.

ReverendHellh0und said:

So the NY Times let democrat opposition research give their surely skewed version of events without any criticism? You believe them at face value 100%?

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LOL, dumbest post of the week.

They are specifically requesting that their recorded testimony be released so we can judge it at face value rather than have it filtered through the obviously corrupt Republican politicians.
But you're wondering why they were not grilled or critiqued....on what?! That they gave a testimony that is on record, and that Republicans refuse to release it?

Funny stuff.

ReverendHellh0und said:

So Fusion GPS did not hire Michael steel to get dirt on Trump from russian operatives? that never happened?

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So you admit you didn't read the article in the OP, which contains an obvious answer to your question? (the answer is no)

apdst said:

I don't know about Michael Steele, but Christopher Steele met with operatives from the Russian government.

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Then you are claiming that his intelligence is essentially legitimate.

HowardBThiname said:

I'm saying that Fusion should have considered the ramifications of what they were getting involved in long ago. Their OP-ed is full of defensive excuses why they shouldn't be held accountable for what they did. It's too late for that.

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That's not true, whatsoever.

I feel like the age of Trump has brought on this completely ****ing stupid presumption that defending yourself is somehow a sign of weakness. Of course, the exact opposite is true, defending yourself is a sign of strength and integrity.

Mr Person said:

Exactly. The Usual Suspects will not believe anything that is a rebuttal to something someone or some persons on the right said. And if it's not a rebuttal, it's still "a liberal" saying it first, and therefore, the truth must against be the opposite.

This is the post-truthiness unreality that certain operators on the right have worked tirelessly to create, over the last 10 years. I'd say it's a much greater threat to Democracy than anything else we've faced, short of perhaps other than the Civil War and Revolutionary War. Or maybe not. Those were conflicts where the facts were pretty well settled and it was the principles that were in dispute. We can't get anywhere if people insist on disputing basic reality.

Hopefully I'm wrong and this insane mentality will blow over, but I have a sneaking suspicion we may be heading into some real trouble as a country.

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These conditions bear a terrible likeness to the conditions prior to the civil war. Most northerners wanted to simply appease the limitless demands of the angry, self-obsessed south for the sake of staying together as a nation. But once violence began to break out, overnight, the spark gave way to a shockwave that ensured the south was beaten into the bloodied and disheveled mess it so rightly deserved.

ReverendHellh0und said:

So the NY Times let democrat opposition research give their surely skewed version of events without any criticism? You believe them at face value 100%?

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Apparently, your alt-right "news" sources have yet to inform you that Fusion GPS was hired to do oppo-research on Trump by the Washington Free Beacon (i.e. the alt-right publication funded by GOP mega-donor Paul Singer, who was a Rubio supporter). It wasn't until after Trump sewed up the GOP nomination that they stopped funding the project. That's when the DNC picked it up and paid the tab to allow Fusion to finish the project. And Chris Steele had no idea who was funding his work.

apdst said:

Why won't Fusion answer Congress' subpoena?

Fusion GPS founders refuse Nunes subpoena and won't testify - Business Insider

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Perhaps because Devin Nunes was forced to recuse himself from the investigation a long time ago. He has no authority to subpoena anyone for a congressional investigation from which he, himself, is disqualified.

ReverendHellh0und said:

I believe in evidence and facts. Not what the media spoon feeds you. It's been shown the media is not to be believed so until the case is adjudicated, I don't have an opinion on don jr.

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LOL, you don't believe in "facts". You believe in "affirmation", and you get it from the alt-right, fakenews media. Your first comment, above, is just the latest example.

apdst said:

As many times as Congress wants. By what authority can FGPS ignore a congressional sunpoena.

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Wrong question. Correct question: By what authority has Devin Nunes (who has already disgraced himself and been forced to recuse himself from the investigation) issued that subpoena?

HowardBThiname said:

I'm saying that Fusion should have considered the ramifications of what they were getting involved in long ago. Their OP-ed is full of defensive excuses why they shouldn't be held accountable for what they did. It's too late for that.

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This is silly. It's obvious that gopers in congress have been trying to lay the groundwork to set up Fusion as at least one of their next "scapegoats", so the decision by Fusion to write this piece makes perfect sense. They've already given congressional testimony (when Grassley promised/lied about releasing the transcript to the public).

And once again, we've seen how you respond to real facts. You dismiss them "defensive excuses" without any substantive rebuttal, and then refuse to elaborate any further. Duck and run, duck and run. Got it.

ReverendHellh0und said:

So you don't believe there is any evidence of collusion between russia and trump?

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:lol: Nice deflection. But I believe he was asking you to detail some of the implied corruption, etc. with regard to Fusion GPS, wasn't he?

Duck and Run, Duck and run.

iliveonramen said:

How would I know? Until any results of the investigation are released, anyone that says they know trump colluded or know that he didn't collude is just speculating.

What I believe is that Trump has financial ties to Russian Oligarchs. That's just speculation though.

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There's no speculation necessary. There's an overwhelming mass of circumstantial evidence, and several bits of direct evidence like the Don Jr meeting, wikileaks directing their messaging, and Flynn lying to the FBI about illegally acting as a surrogate between Mar-A-Lago and the Russian government prior to inauguration.

The circumstantial evidence is nearly unanimous. It is truly overwhelming, let's not play games and give cover to nonsensical conspiracy theories about a "deep state" when we have a coherent conspiracy playing out before our very eyes.

iliveonramen said:

What did they get into? They legally gathered opposition research for a client of theirs. They turned over the Dossier to authorities.

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That's not what they claim happened. You didn't read the article you're arguing for, did you?

That is what we know. They said they turned over the Dossier because things found were illegal and something authorities should know. I'm curious what exactly you believe they've done that is criminal?

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Again, they deny turning over the dossier -- read better. They have completely pushed that off on Steele - on his "conscience." I didn't say they did anything "illegal." Again, read better. They're trying to distance and divorce themselves from Steele's actions -- LOL -- they don't like it that their methodology is being called into question.

They may well have been on the right side of the law but they're probably bleeding clients who think their actions were unethical.

Why do you suppose they're crying so darned much, anyway?

HowardBThiname said:

That's not what they claim happened. You didn't read the article you're arguing for, did you?



Again, they deny turning over the dossier -- read better. They have completely pushed that off on Steele - on his "conscience."

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I've gone back and forth with so many people in this thread and the conversation has been about Steele. Let's say that Fusion turned the Dossier into the authorities...is that illegal? Is it illegal for Steel to? At least be clear at what crime you're accusing either of.

Why do you suppose they're crying so darned much, anyway?

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Because they own a business. Because that business has been attacked 24/7 by conservatives to protect the President. Because they testified to Congress and specific cherry picked portions of that 10 hour meeting have been "leaked" to Fox News and other right wing sources while the transcripts haven't been shared. Because they believe the transcripts of the entire conversation paints a more accurate picture of what happened.

I'd be "crying" as well.

They're trying to distance and divorce themselves from Steele's actions -- LOL -- they don't like it that their methodology is being called into question.

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they aren't distancing themselves at all. The pointed out that they didn't tell Steele anything other than to look into Trumps dealing with Russians.

Also...I know this is a reach but what if *gasp* it really was Steele that turned it over to authorities and they are just telling what happened. I know it's impossible because of the speculative narrative created from nothing on the right absolved Trump of any wrong doing and makes Obama and Clinton the TRUE villains here...but believe it or not...there's a possibility they are telling the truth. Just because they were meanies to Trump doesn't mean everything out of their mouth is a lie.

ultmd said:

Apparently, your alt-right "news" sources have yet to inform you that Fusion GPS was hired to do oppo-research on Trump by the Washington Free Beacon (i.e. the alt-right publication funded by GOP mega-donor Paul Singer, who was a Rubio supporter). It wasn't until after Trump sewed up the GOP nomination that they stopped funding the project. That's when the DNC picked it up and paid the tab to allow Fusion to finish the project. And Chris Steele had no idea who was funding his work.



Perhaps because Devin Nunes was forced to recuse himself from the investigation a long time ago. He has no authority to subpoena anyone for a congressional investigation from which he, himself, is disqualified.



LOL, you don't believe in "facts". You believe in "affirmation", and you get it from the alt-right, fakenews media. Your first comment, above, is just the latest example.




Wrong question. Correct question: By what authority has Devin Nunes (who has already disgraced himself and been forced to recuse himself from the investigation) issued that subpoena?



This is silly. It's obvious that gopers in congress have been trying to lay the groundwork to set up Fusion as at least one of their next "scapegoats", so the decision by Fusion to write this piece makes perfect sense. They've already given congressional testimony (when Grassley promised/lied about releasing the transcript to the public).

And once again, we've seen how you respond to real facts. You dismiss them "defensive excuses" without any substantive rebuttal, and then refuse to elaborate any further. Duck and run, duck and run. Got it.



:lol: Nice deflection. But I believe he was asking you to detail some of the implied corruption, etc. with regard to Fusion GPS, wasn't he?

Duck and Run, Duck and run.

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Nunes didn't give up his subpoena authority. Nor does FGPS have the lawful authority to say he did.

Absentglare said:

Then you are claiming that his intelligence is essentially legitimate.

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How do you figure that that is what I'm claiming?

Mach said:

Because they saw Benghazi 8.0 and are not idiots.

They testified, and the Republicans are keeping it secret, rather then making it public.
Fusion wants it made public now that Republicans are lying about it.
"Republicans better hope there are no tapes!" Oops, there are records of their testimony.

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Again, for the umpteenth time, by what authority can they ignore a subpoena?

iliveonramen said:

I've gone back and forth with so many people in this thread and the conversation has been about Steele. Let's say that Fusion turned the Dossier into the authorities...is that illegal? Is it illegal for Steel to? At least be clear at what crime you're accusing either of.


Because they own a business. Because that business has been attacked 24/7 by conservatives to protect the President. Because they testified to Congress and specific cherry picked portions of that 10 hour meeting have been "leaked" to Fox News and other right wing sources while the transcripts haven't been shared. Because they believe the transcripts of the entire conversation paints a more accurate picture of what happened.

I'd be "crying" as well.

they aren't distancing themselves at all. The pointed out that they didn't tell Steele anything other than to look into Trumps dealing with Russians.

Also...I know this is a reach but what if *gasp* it really was Steele that turned it over to authorities and they are just telling what happened. I know it's impossible because of the speculative narrative created from nothing on the right absolved Trump of any wrong doing and makes Obama and Clinton the TRUE villains here...but believe it or not...there's a possibility they are telling the truth. Just because they were meanies to Trump doesn't mean everything out of their mouth is a lie.

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Fusion's OP-ed was written to sway weak-minded folks into thinking they were getting unfair treatment.

Tain't so.

Fusion now publicly asks for the entire transcript to be released, KNOWING full well it cannot be because classified information was discussed during that closed session. Again, it would behoove you to learn the facts before defending Fusion's pity-poor-me whine.

“There are, however, investigative factors that [Grassley] must consider to temporarily protect certain information in the midst of an ongoing inquiry such as this one, like tainting the memory of other witnesses," Foy said. "More importantly, Senator Grassley provided Fusion GPS an opportunity for transparency six months ago when he invited the firm to publicly testify at an open committee hearing. Mr. Simpson declined."

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Chuck Grassley to Fusion GPS: If you want transparency, testify in public

However, Simpson, Fusion's co-founder, was asked to testify publicly and he declined. Of course he wasn't going to -- he's not interested in transparency -- only in pushing his whiny narrative.

He's been invited once again to testify publicly.

How much do you want to bet that he never will? LOL But, keep defending shysters -- you seem really good at it.

apdst said:

(1) Nunes didn't give up his subpoena authority. (2) Nor does FGPS have the lawful authority to say he did.

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1. A congressman can't subpoena someone for an investigation when he is not a part of that investigation. There is a formal investigation underway by the House, but Nunes is NOT a part of it. He was forced to recuse himself after revealing his CLEAR conflicts of interest. He's not a "committee of one". That's not how congress works, for some very good reasons.

2. Nonsense. Of course they do. It's up to Nunes now to state his authority, since he is NOT a part of the investigation anymore. And he'd better choose his words and arguments very carefully, because a LOT of people will be interested in what he has to say. Nunes' problem from here is that he's just not that bright a guy, so it's very likely that he will just embarrass himself again (as he did previously). The more Devin Nunes tries to talk, the more embarrassing the outcome will be for him.

ultmd said:

1. A congressman can't subpoena someone for an investigation when he is not a part of that investigation. There is a formal investigation underway by the House, but Nunes is NOT a part of it. He was forced to recuse himself after revealing his CLEAR conflicts of interest. He's not a "committee of one". That's not how congress works, for some very good reasons.

2. Nonsense. Of course they do. It's up to Nunes now to state his authority, since he is NOT a part of the investigation anymore. And he'd better choose his words and arguments very carefully, because a LOT of people will be interested in what he has to say. Nunes' problem from here is that he's just not that bright a guy, so it's very likely that he will just embarrass himself again (as he did previously). The more Devin Nunes tries to talk, the more embarrassing the outcome will be for him.

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The chairman of the committee doing the investigating is part of the investigation. Nunes didn't step down as chairman of the committee.

HowardBThiname said:

Considering that Fusion connived with Steele to gather and publish the debunked dossier details, it appears that Fusion is now sad and crying in its milk.

Too bad. They should have turned Hillary's campaign away when they were approached to produce the bogus dossier. Now, they're getting their feet held to the fire and they're whining about it.

An old saying is apropos here -- lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.

Fusion is tainted with fleas.

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Steele produced the dossier not Fusion and Steele stands behind it so much he gave it to the CIA. Too bad Trump's people were not so forthright about their meetings with the Russians, huh? There would be no need to question their motives. Trump brought this on himself by lying and looking guilty as hell.

apdst said:

The chairman of the committee doing the investigating is part of the investigation. Nunes didn't step down as chairman of the committee.

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Nunes worked on Trump's campaign. It is a travesty that he has not recused himself.

iguanaman said:

Steele produced the dossier not Fusion and Steele stands behind it so much he gave it to the CIA. Too bad Trump's people were not so forthright about their meetings with the Russians, huh? There would be no need to question their motives. Trump brought this on himself by lying and looking guilty as hell.

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That's not really what this thread is about. It's about Fusion crying over being questioned as to their role in the entire boondoggle.

iguanaman said:

Nunes worked on Trump's campaign. It is a travesty that he has not recused himself.

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He did recuse himself from the Russia/Trump investigation. However, that has nothing to do with the congressional investigations looking into corruption in the FBI and DOJ, which FGPS is connected to.

HowardBThiname said:

Fusion's OP-ed was written to sway weak-minded folks into thinking they were getting unfair treatment..

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How open minded of you. You surely are a mental giant since you have all the answers.

Fusion now publicly asks for the entire transcript to be released, KNOWING full well it cannot be because classified information was discussed during that closed session. Again, it would behoove you to learn the facts before defending Fusion's pity-poor-me whine.

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Because redacting classified portions would be impossible?

However, Simpson, Fusion's co-founder, was asked to testify publicly and he declined. Of course he wasn't going to -- he's not interested in transparency -- only in pushing his whiny narrative.

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Yeah....because if you testify privately only the state should have the ability to leak what they want in order to portray you anyway they'd like. Small government right?

As for publicly testifying...why, so Republican senators can play to the TV screens? They've already testified..."we'll only share all the information if you testify AGAIN!' That's the dumbest **** I've ever heard.

HowardBThiname said:

That's not what they claim happened. You didn't read the article you're arguing for, did you?



Again, they deny turning over the dossier -- read better. They have completely pushed that off on Steele - on his "conscience." I didn't say they did anything "illegal." Again, read better. They're trying to distance and divorce themselves from Steele's actions -- LOL -- they don't like it that their methodology is being called into question.

They may well have been on the right side of the law but they're probably bleeding clients who think their actions were unethical.

Why do you suppose they're crying so darned much, anyway?

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Fusion is "divorcing themselves" because they were not involved in compiling the dossier, it was 100% Steele and he stands behind it to this day.

The Steele Dossier on Trump Is Looking More and More Real

iliveonramen said:

How open minded of you. You surely are a mental giant since you have all the answers.


Because redacting classified portions would be impossible?

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Fusion specified that they wanted it released in its entirety.

Yeah....because if you testify privately only the state should have the ability to leak what they want in order to portray you anyway they'd like. Small government right?

As for publicly testifying...why, so Republican senators can play to the TV screens? They've already testified..."we'll only share all the information if you testify AGAIN!' That's the dumbest **** I've ever heard.

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What appears to be happening is here is sleazy lawyering. The guy was asked to testify publicly. He declined. He's been asked to turn over documents -- he declined. Then, he cries foul, claiming they won't release the ENTIRE transcript. He's not a dumb guy -- he knows they cant.

If he were on the up and up, he'd take them up on their offer to have him testify publicly.

If you really believe the crybaby story in the Op-ed, surely you can find some logical reason why the guy keeps refusing to testify publicly. What could it be he doesn't want the world to hear?