Steele Dossier Trump-Russian “Collusion” = Conspiracy, Coordination, and Cooperation

So, Vova, how's the plan going? 

Отлично, Донни (Excellent Donnie)

EXTENSIVE UPDATE: Background and retrospective on the “Steele Dossier” re: Trump-Russian on-going scandal here from Law Fare (December 14, 2018):

INTRODUCTION IN PART FROM THE TWO LAW FARE ARTICLE AUTHORS:

The dossier compiled by former British (MI6) intelligence officer Christopher Steele (ABC News: October 10, 2018) remains a subject of fascination — or, depending on your perspective, scorn.

Indeed, it was much discussed during former FBI Director Jim Comey’s testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee on December 7, 2017.

It was published by Buzz Feed News in January 2017. It received significant public attention, first for its lurid details regarding Donald J. Trump’s pre-presidential alleged sexual escapades in Russia and later for its role in forming part of the basis for the government’s application for a FISA warrant to surveil Carter Page (from NPR, July 23, 2018). 

Our interest (the Law Fare authors) in revisiting the compilation that has come to be called the “Steele Dossier” concerns neither of those topics, at least not directly. Rather, we returned to the document because we wondered whether information made public as a result of the Mueller investigation — and the passage of two years — has tended to buttress or diminish the crux of Steele’s original reporting.

The dossier is actually a series of reports — 16 in all — that total 35 pages. Written in 2016, the dossier is a collection of raw intelligence. Steele neither evaluated nor synthesized the intelligence.

Steele neither made nor rendered bottom-line judgments. The dossier is, quite simply and by design, raw reporting, not a finished intelligence product.

STEELE DOSSIER FACTS:

1. The Steele DOSSIER is not/was not classified.

2. The Steele DOSSIER was never used in any classified context.

3. The Steele DOSSIER was never leaked or hacked.

4. The Steele DOSSIER was part of a large, at first, GOP opposition research (oppo) project.

(I Note: Not in any sense was is illegal to do oppo – it is done all the time by both sides used to gather and smear (if they choose) a political opponent).

(Further I Note: A conservative publication (the Washington Free Beacon) said it paid a Washington research firm (Fusion GPS) (status on that reported here from The Hill) to start probing Donald Trump's background (article here outlines that from Politico).

It was a move that set in motion a chain of events leading to the explosive dossier alleging ties between Trump associates and Russia. In a statement, the Washington Free Beacon said it retained Fusion GPS to provide research on multiple Republican candidates in the 2016 presidential election.

Two people familiar with NY hedge fund billionaire GOP donor Paul Singer (report from Newsweek) said he provided financial support to the publication. A spokesman for Singer's firm, Elliott Management, did not respond to requests seeking comment.

The Free Beacon said its research ended before Fusion GPS hired a former British intelligence officer, Christopher Steele, to produce a series of reports alleging links between Russia and those close to Trump. That occurred after the firm was retained by a lawyer for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the DNC).

5. The Steele DOSSIER has not been 100% verified due to weak, or in some cases, unverifiable sources and statements.

6.  The Steele DOSSIER is extremely personal in nature and a huge embarrassment to Donald J. Trump in a big political way.

My 2 cents: This story – the Steele dossier – is documentary, interesting, and politically intriguing, but only a part of the Trump saga.

Related and added (December 15, 2018) this report from CNN with this headlines: “FBI releases document Intel officials used to brief Trump on dossier.” Most-interesting is the video once again showing Trump and his standard set of lies (2:45 minute video) denying as he always does the facts, the truth, other than his pick and choose version of course designed and geared to keep his base of support in tow.

Then add this CNN background report (January 12, 2017) 11:00 video that show what incoming President Trump and then President Obama were briefed on. Most revealing to put this all into perspective and counters all that Trump has said to date about the “phony Hillary-funded dossier.”

How this all comes to a head, will conclude, I believe in one of two ways: (1) either Trump is impeached and removed from office, or (2) like Nixon, the heat gets so intense that Trump will resign from office in total disgrace – for surely he is – to the country and indeed to the free world at large. 

Perhaps he will be labeled the worst in history – a term he probably will cherish and peddle since he loves being the best, smartest, most informed, always #1 on top, and above everyone else – wait and see on that part … it’s just my hunch. 

So, stay tuned – this story builds and changes daily, or so it seems. 

Thanks for stopping by.