Sources: House GOP staffers fly to London to find Steele, invite to testify expected

[riversedge]

Source: CNN




Updated 8:06 AM ET, Sun August 6, 2017


Source: House Intel staff tried to meet Steele 01:27

(CNN)A pair of Republican staffers on the House intelligence committee flew to London recently to try to find a way to bring the author of a dossier containing explosive allegations about President Donald Trump and top members of his campaign before the panel, sources familiar with the trip have told CNN.

A congressional source familiar with the trip said House investigators are expected to send a letter to the author of the file, Christopher Steele, inviting him to testify before the House intelligence committee -- but it will have to be approved by the leaders of the panel's investigation first.

Steele, a former British intelligence official, has been a highly sought-after witness ever since it was revealed he wrote the dossier, which contained unverified claims that Russian operatives had compromising personal and financial information about Trump.
Trump always denied the claims, dismissing them as "phony" in January.

The trip by House Republican staff investigating Russian interference in the US election touched off a spat behind the scenes at the Capitol because Democrats on the investigation were kept in the dark, according to a separate source familiar with the trip............................


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/05/politics/house-intelligence-steele-testimony/index.html?sr=twCNNp080517house-intelligence-steele-testimony0403PMVODtop&CNNPolitics=Tw

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Leaving Democrats out of the loop to find Steele or just to find Steele's lawyer is WRONG!

Link to tweet

[lunasun]

1. Boy talk about doing Putin's work. Steele will not be found I predict

[lark]

2. I really doubt they want to find him, so probably won't.

Wouldn't it be funny if he hears about this and sends public letter advising he will testify.

edited to fix typo

[Honeycombe8]

13. They DO want to find him...to bolster their belief that this is a witch hunt.

There were reported errors in that report, and it's likely the author can't, or won't, provide real evidence proving the allegations. All that would lead the HOUSE intel committee to conclude that it was "fake news."

Remember this is the House of Rep Intel Committee, the one chaired by Trump's hit man, Nunes. The one who went to the White House in the dead of night to discuss Intel Committee matters and receive documentation from the White House.

This is a planned "gotcha," intended to support Trump and Nunes.

The Senate is the only Congressional body doing a real investigation of sorts. Not the House, as we have seen.

[.99center]

15. They found him.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/04/trump-steele-dossier-russia-241299
"That source also said it was a coincidence that Steele was meeting with his lawyer when the staffers visited, and that the investigators followed instructions from Washington not to speak to Steele himself."

"The House staffers left their contact information at two addresses associated with Steele, a former agent for Britain’s MI6 foreign intelligence service. One of those locations was Steele’s lawyer’s office, where the former spy was meeting with his counsel when the House investigators showed up."

They made a trip to London to make contact with Steele, found him, gave Steele their contact information and left London....
Makes sense, no foul play here.

[Not Ruth]

3. Everybody (almost) wants Steele to testify

He could get a free trip out of it. It would raise his profile and probably ensure his safety.

[FakeNoose]

6. Professional spies have to stay under cover

He'd only come out and testify if he's "retiring" and that's probably not good for his health.

However I do believe Mueller's people can ask Steele questions under oath and it would be considered testimony if this ever goes to trial. He doesn't need to physically appear in the grand jury hearing if it's done according to the rules. In a grand jury hearing there's no cross-examination of the witnesses, like they do in a court trial. (This is not my area of expertise so I could be wrong about this.)

[Not Ruth]

7. I think that Steele is retired

[Demit]

9. "Steele, a former British intelligence official..."

[Merlot]

10. He continued working after leaving British intelligence

He either has his own company or works for one (I'm not sure which). That company was the one that did the trumpt intel, they were originally hired by repub operatives who wanted to stop trumptf in the primary. At least that's how I remember it.

[Demit]

12. That's right, I remember now. It was more like private detective stuff, not govt spy stuff.

[dhol82]

4. I hope he is really watching his back

I don't trust that it's just the republicans going on this fishing expedition.

[RKP5637]

5. I wouldn't trust any republicans looking for me! n/t

[dhol82]

8. Totally!

[Old Vet]

11. Steele has a target currently on his back, He knows the full weight of trump...........

And his money is at stake here.

[Tactical Peek]

14. Putin and the Kremlin crowd must need help finding Steele for their own reasons.

So Republicans, the kind who receive money from Putin and his buddies, are glad to lend a hand to their patrons in Moscow.

Fuck those guys.

[.99center]

16. The House investigation needs dismantled before they interfere with Muller's investigation!

"House Intelligence Committee Republicans did not tell Democrats on the panel, the Senate Intelligence Committee nor special counsel Robert Mueller’s office that the investigators were pursuing Steele."

It's time for Schiff to quit misleading the public about the House and Senate investigations, they're a sham. We need an independent commission!

[Vinca]

17. I'd love to hear Steele testify given the stamp of approval our intelligence people have given him.

Maybe he could bring along the peepee video.