British spy Christopher Steele has given FBI the names of his sources for Trump dossier

[deminks]

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/british-spy-christopher-steele-has-given-fbi-the-names-of-his-sources-for-trump-dossier-report/#.WZxQ8wc0Jyg.twitter

A former British spy has reportedly given FBI agents the names of his sources for an explosive 35-page dossier linking President Donald Trump to Russian efforts to interfere with the election.

Former MI6 agent Christopher Steele hasn’t yet spoken to congressional investigators about his findings, but he has met with FBI agents to discuss how he had learned about Trump’s alleged activities involving Russia, reported ABC News.

Steele was hired by the opposition research firm Fusion GPS to look into Trump’s background after wealthy Republicans paid the Washington, D.C.-based business about $1 million, and then later worked for Democrats who sought additional damaging information.

Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who specialized in money laundering and Russian organized crime, was scheduled to appear in a closed session with congressional investigators to discuss the dossier.

A recent U.S. court ruling could compel Steele to testify before lawmakers.

(end snip)

[Wounded Bear]

1. Can a US court compel a non-resident foreigner to testify?

Seems likely that it would be difficult at best, especially one who probably has high end clearance from the government.

It's good that he seems to be cooperating.

[PearliePoo2]

3. That is my question also. I hope he cooperates and I hope..

he has protection! There's bad dudes out there that would like to silence him.
Also, I remember Rep. Adam Schiff saying the House Committee would like to interview him and if Steele can't come to the U.S. they would go to a place of his (Steele's) choosing.

THIS IS HUGE!

K&R

[lostnfound]

10. I think it's TERRIBLE. The bad dude is the one trying to compel his testimony. Helps the Russians.

This is not testimony to further the Russian investigation. I read it as a Russian future oligarch using US courts to try to get the sources for the Steele dossier disclosed so that Putin can silence / execute / punish them.

"Russian tech mogul Aleksej Gubarev, who was named in the dossier, has sued Buzzfeed — which published the unverified dossier shortly before Inauguration Day — for libel, and his attorneys want to question Steele under oath about his findings.

A U.S. District Court judge in Florida recently ruled that Gubarev’s U.S.-based attorneys could seek British approval to force Steele’s testimony."

The guy has lived in Cyprus since 2002...

[bettyellen]

13. I think talking to the FBI and Mueller is good but yeah...

Perhaps instead the FBI can make the Florida court aware of what they need to know to settle the suit? Weird games going on.

[Hortensis]

24. You believe Raw Story? Best to question BOTH sources and info

and refuse to swallow anything whole. For instance, this may turn out to be true in a few, most or all respects, but Raw Story is akin to a left-wing version of the likes of Breitbart, etc.

Choose your favorite Kool-Aid flavor OR insist on waiting for reliable sources. That is the choice.

[ClusterFreak]

35. I'm with you.

Every time I see an attention-grabbing headline like this, the first thing I want to see is the source. I don't know Raw Story as well as you or some, but I just take every story with a grain of salt when its primary source is a blog. It's best to be skeptical no matter the source - blog or MSM staple - but even more so when a blog is reporting a story. Especially when it's a story you desperately want to believe is true.

[lostnfound]

41. No, my information on the subject was from mainstream papers.

[Hortensis]

42. Googling your quote brought up SputnikNews, Daily Caller,

WashingtonExaminer, and I was only complaining about a left-wing propaganda tabloid being posted here.

[Amaryllis]

37. My first question also!

[tiptonic]

39. Semper Fi, Jar Head

Not sure we can force him but England is our best allie. I'm sure he will be happy to help.

[atreides1]

2. Uh huh!

The British are very serious about their "Secrets Act", and it's a good bet that some of Steele's contacts are MI6 assets!

I see the British government telling that federal judge in Florida to go piss up a rope, tactfully of course!!!

[Wounded Bear]

4. The British are always tactful...

when telling someone to fuck off.

[Nay]

12. They're really good at it. You hardly know you've been tossed through the swinging doors.

[Wounded Bear]

32. I think I heard it said that the art of tact...

Is telling someone to fuck off in a way that compels them to thank you for it.

Had to be an Englishman. Americans are rank amateurs at it.

[mwooldri]

23. Certain people I know are invited to take a long walk...

... off a short pier.

Sorry can't be more creative right now. The orange imbecile has me cream crackered.

[FM123]

5. This is a big deal!

Trumpy's gang keeps insisting that since Mueller's Russia investigation is based upon the Steele dossier and since the Steele dossier is "fake made up stuff" by Hillary and the Dems, the entire investigation should just be dismissed. Yeah right!

[onetexan]

7. +1

[Sedona]

6. The woodchipper of justice just sped up a bit

[nolabear]

14. LOL! Nice phrase.

[Wounded Bear]

31. You mean like this?

[Vinca]

8. I'm 100% certain everything Steele found is supportable. Even the peepee video.

I hope Steele testifies in a public forum.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. What took so long?

[nolabear]

15. He may have been protecting himself.

Never tell where the bodies are buried until you're sure they will keep you from getting bumped off.

[tclambert]

16. Interesting that Republicans first hired Fusion GPS and Steele.

Undercuts any claim that it was all Democrats making stuff up.

[Cosmocat]

20. They still will be disingenuous scumbags about it

But, it certainly helps with the battle of the 1 volt minds of the "middle" electorate to be able to point out that it was originally commissioned by republicans.

[aeromanKC]

17. Release The Kraken!!

I've got my eye Bleach ready!!

[Ford_Prefect]

18. As a British subject he is not bound by US law. He can refuse to cooperate.

It will depend upon who in British government can be found to apply pressure. Given he is former MI6 that seems rather unlikely especially since the response to Charlottesville has alienated so many world leaders

Congress only has authority within US boundaries and territories. All other legal force comes from cooperative treaty arrangements. Were he indicted for a federal crime they may be able to compel a response. However last I knew Contempt of Congress does not rise to the level where he could be arrested and conveyed out of Britain. I suspect they would then need to file a case in British courts which seems an unlikely scenario since ultimately they are trying to compel him to testify against his own interests.

[Myrddin]

29. The fact that he proffered...

...the dossier to the FBI in the first place, would suggest he is more than willing to cooperate?

The hold up would be UK national security interests? In the present diplomatic climate I suspect cooperation might be forthcoming?

[Ford_Prefect]

33. According to the OP reference he gave McCain a copy of the report and gave it to FBI.

Either way he is not required to submit to interrogation by the US Congress. They may invite him to testify but they may not insist.
I suspect since this was a private contract rather than information from HM Government there is probably some cooperative legal arrangement possible. I doubt that HMG will insist given the current state of affairs. The House committee is leaky as can be and only exists to steer the bloodhounds away from real progress, and to compromise the evidence and witnesses.
Steele may or may not chose to speak to the Senate where there seems to be more genuine concern about just how wrong things are.
If It was me I'd speak to Mueller and no one else.

[WoonTars]

19. I'm so happy i think i pee'd a little...

[dembotoz]

21. hope continues that the gift box dvd pee tape extravaganza will be in the stores for xmas

suitable for gifting to all your evangelical and trump lovers at family gatherings

[Sedona]

22. This certainly explains last nights speech

Wag the dog much Drumph?

[FM123]

26. It certainly does.

This is Trumpy's M.O.
He made that crazy announcement about a transgender ban in the military just hours after Manafort's home was raided, not realizing that "Mueller Don't Leak" and there was going to be no mention of it on the news that day to get in front of.

[Maraya1969]

27. In the last couple of weeks he rang war bells with N. Korea, Venezuela and

Afghanistan. He makes crazy noise every time something bad about him shows up in the light of day

[FM123]

28. Ding Ding Ding!

[Mrs. Overall]

25. Excellent news.

[spanone]

30. Yea Baby!!!!

[Honeycombe8]

34. I wonder why he gave it up. He was under no obligation. nt

[lindysalsagal]

36. JUst heard it reported on msnbc chris hayes.

Gotta think they confirmed it.

[flamingdem]

38. The Peepee tapes

are not just piss in the wind. Sources baybee!

[world wide wally]

40. I hope this guy has 'round the clock protection...

and a food taster