Following are sources not identified in the text.
1: Welcome: “Devin Nunes Opening Statement for Mueller Hearing,” July 24, 2019.
2: Mueller brushed: Transcript of Robert S. Mueller III’s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, July 24, 2019.
3: After spending: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, p. 13.
4: prepared statement: “Representative Nunes on Russian Election Interference.” March 22, 2017. C-Span.
5: Their business concerns: “Emails show 2016 links among Steele, Ohr, Simpson—with Russian oligarch in background,” Byron York, Washington Examiner, August 08, 2018. York’s carefully reported and well-sourced columns made him one of the most important of the handful of journalists covering the anti-Trump operation.
6: Ohr’s wife: US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview of Nellie Ohr, October 19, 2018, p. 8
7: Halper… campaign war-room: “Reagan aides describe operation to gather inside data on Carter,” by Leslie H. Gelb, New York Times, July 7, 1983. “John McCain and the October Surprise,” by Steve Kornacki, New York Observer, October 9, 2008.
8: Halper… drew income: “Trump-supporting Pentagon analyst stripped of security clearance after Stefan Halper complaints,” by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times. August 15, 2018. “FBI spy Stefan Halper’s $240,000 Pentagon study disavowed by high-profile experts,” by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times. October 1, 2018. Letter from Office of Inspector General, Department of Defense to Sen. Charles Grassley regarding “DoD ONA contracts with Professor Stefan Halper,” July 2, 2019. Scarborough’s articles, particularly on Halper’s interactions with Office of Net Assessment, were among the most significant reports highlighting central issues in the anti-Trump operation.
9: February 26, 2016 Reuters: A January 2, 2019 John Solomon article in The Hill—“Exculpatory Russia evidence about Mike Flynn that US intel kept secret”—showed conclusively that Flynn had notified his former agency before his trip, receiving a defensive briefing beforehand and providing one to former colleagues on his return. However, information about Flynn’s trip was in the public record before his exit from the White House—“Trump Embraces Ex-Top Obama Intel Official,” by Shane Harris, Daily Beast, March 9, 2016; “Top Trump adviser defends payment for Russian speaking engagement,” Michael Isikoff, Yahoo! News, July 18, 2016; “Trump adviser Michael T. Flynn on his dinner with Putin and why Russia Today is just like CNN,” Dana Priest, Washington Post, August 15, 2016. Nonetheless, the press routinely ignored Flynn’s published remarks in order to prosecute a campaign against the retired general.
10: He wrote an op-ed: “The bear out there,” by Devin Nunes, Washington Times, August 29, 2014.
11: July 2009 trip to Moscow: “Text: Obama’s Speech at the New Economic School,” New York Times, July 7, 2009.
12: we could be doing economically to Russia: “80 times Trump talked about Putin,” by Andrew Kaczynski, Chris Massie, and Nathan McDermott, CNN, March 2017.
13: Fred Ryan: Audio recording of Donald Trump’s meeting with Washington Post editorial board, March 21, 2016.
14: Papadopoulos hit the press: “Say sorry to Trump or risk special relationship, Cameron told,” by Francis Elliott, Times of London, May 4, 2016.
15: Robert Baer: “Unpacking the Other Clinton-Linked Russia Dossier,” by Lee Smith, Real Clear Investigations, April 26, 2018.
16: Simpson was already familiar: “How Lobbyists Help Ex-Soviets Woo Washington,” by Glenn Simpson and Mary Jacoby, Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2007. “McCain Consultant Is Tied To Work for Ukraine Party,” by Mary Jacoby and Glenn Simpson, Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2008
17: The biggest intelligence failure: “Intel chair: Russian moves biggest intel failure since 9/11,” CNN, April 11, 2016.
18: Hillary for America: According to the Clinton campaign’s law firm, Fusion GPS approached the campaign in early March 2016 and was hired in April. Letter from Matthew Gehringer, General Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, to William W. Taylor, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, October 24, 2017.
19: Founded in 2010: US Senate, Judiciary Committee, Interview of Glenn Simpson, August 22, 2017, p. 25.
20: smear Romney: “The President’s Hit List,” Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2012.
21: several separate dossiers: A spreadsheet, “WhosWho19Sept2016.xlsx,” produced by Nellie Ohr cites numerous reports (from November 2015 to September 2016), suggesting that Fusion GPS compiled voluminous Trump-Russia and updated it frequently. Many of the dozens names on the spreadsheet appear in the May 20 and three other protodossiers. “Bruce Ohr Gave His Wife’s Fusion GPS Research To The FBI. Here Are The Documents,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, August 14, 2019.
22: Ohr was hired: US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview of Nellie Ohr, October 19, 2018, p. 10
23: Byron York: York wrote two Washington Examiner articles detailing events on the convention floor. “How pundits got key part of Trump-Russia story all wrong,” March 18, 2017; and “What really happened with the GOP platform and Russia,” November 26, 2017. The House Intelligence Committee’s Report on Russian Active Measures, March 22, 2018, goes into great detail regarding the RNC platform issue, p. 68–70.
24: Kristol and Stephen Hayes: “Demand the Documents,” by Stephen F. Hayes and William Kristol, Weekly Standard, August 10, 2015.
25: Rhodes told the New York Times Magazine: “The Aspiring Novelist Who Became Obama’s Foreign-Policy Guru,” by David Samuels, New York Times Magazine, May 5, 2016.
26: Mifsud taught intelligence: “The Maltese Phantom of Russiagate” Lee Smith, Real Clear Investigations. My reporting on Mifsud’s background and sensibility is indebted to information and insight provided by Stephan C. Roh, Mifsud’s lawyer, and Thierry Pastor, who together authored a 2018 book, The Faking of Russia-gate, The Papadopoulos Case: An Investigative Analysis.
27: Stephen Miller and Carter Page: “Another Trump Campaign Aide Was Invited To Cambridge Event Where ‘Spygate’ Started,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, June 5, 2018. A tireless reporter who covered virtually every component of the anti-Trump operation, Ross broke several major stories, particularly regarding the role of Stefan Halper.
28: Halper and Downer: “An Email Referring To ‘Collusion’ Sheds Light On Cambridge Prof’s Interactions With Trump Aide,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, May 20, 2018. A source confirms that Downer also approached Page.
29: Henry Greenberg: “Trump associate Roger Stone reveals new contact with Russian national during 2016 campaign,” by Manuel Roig-Franzia and Rosalind S. Helderman, Washington Post, June 17, 2018
30: remarkable episode: “2016 Trump Tower Meeting Looks Increasingly Like a Setup by Russian and Clinton Operatives,” by Lee Smith, Real Clear Investigations, August 13, 2018.
31: Simpson had distinguished: “Controversy Erupts Over Steward’s Testimony Before Grand Jury,” Brian Duffy and Glenn Simpson, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 1998. “Wall Street Journal Story Reflects Fast News Cycle,” by Howard Kurtz, Washington Post, February 5, 1998
32: Yanukovych was poised to sign: “Ukraine suspends talks on EU trade pact as Putin wins tug of war,” by Ian Traynor and Oksana Grytsenko, Guardian, November 21, 2013
33: Derwick Associates: “News-For-Hire Scandal Deepens: ‘Fusion GPS’ Sleazy Venezuela Links Shed New Light on Trump Dossier,” by Lee Smith, Tablet, July 27, 2017.
34: Thor Halvorssen… says Fusion GPS: Halvorssen’s allegations appear in his May 10, 2018 complaint against Simpson, Fritsch and others filed in the Eastern District of New York.
35: Halvorssen filed a civil RICO lawsuit: “Testimony of Thor Halvorssen to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary,” July 26, 2017.
36: Fusion GPS targeted: Does U.S. Media Help Russia Destabilize The United States?” by Lee Smith, The Federalist, October 10, 2017
37: Akhmetshin… former Soviet intelligence officer: “Former Soviet Counterintelligence Officer at Meeting With Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Lawyer,” by Ken Dilanian, Natasha Lebedeva and Hallie Jackson, NBC News, July 14, 2017.
38: Simpson met with Veselnitskaya: US Senate, Judiciary Committee, Interview of Glenn Simpson, August 22, 2017, p. 117.
39: Project Charlemagne: “Christopher Steele: The Man Behind the Trump Dossier,” by Jane Mayer. The New Yorker, March 12, 2018.
40: Admonished: “FBI releases documents showing payments to Trump dossier author Steele,” by Tom Winter, NBC News, Aug. 3, 2018.
41: Fusion GPS hired a specialist: Simpson testified that he believed Fusion GPS hired Steele in June, or late May. US House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Interview of Glenn Simpson, November 14, 2017, p. 66. Simpson explained that after Fusion GPS exhausted its open-source material, it brought on Steele. US Senate, Judiciary Committee, Interview of Glenn Simpson, August 22, 2017, p. 143.
42: Fusion pay Steele: “Ex-British spy paid $168,000 for Trump dossier, U.S. firm discloses,” by Mark Hosenball, Reuters, November 1, 2017.
43: Sater… missing: Sater was widely reported to have worked with numerous US agencies, see for instance, “Ex-Trump Affiliate Secretly Worked With Prosecutors, FBI and CIA for Years,” By Michael Rothfeld, Wall Street Journal, August 23, 2019; and “The Asset,” by Anthony Cormier and Jason Leopold. BuzzFeed, March 12, 2018.
44: Julian Assange: “WikiLeaks to publish more Hillary Clinton emails-Julian Assange,” by Mark Tran, Guardian, June 12, 2016.
45: Clinton claimed: “Transcript: Everything Hillary Clinton Said on the Email Controversy,” by Zeke J. Miller, Time, March 10, 2015
46: In July 2015: “Clinton–Obama Emails: The Key to Understanding Why Hillary Wasn’t Indicted,” By Andrew McCarthy, National Review, January 23, 2018. McCarthy, a former Justice Department official, was one of the first columnists who recognized irregularities in the FBI’s Russia probe. His many articles explaining the inner-workings of the FBI and DOJ are vital resources in understanding the anti-Trump plot.
47: McCabe had a conflict of interest: A Review of Various Actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice in Advance of the 2016 Election, Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, June 2018, p. 431.
48: Clinton had sent an email to Obama: Clinton’s itinerary (https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/secretary/clinton-hillary-rodham) as Secretary of State shows that from June 28 to 29, 2012 she was in St. Petersburg, Russia for the APEC Women and the Economy Forum. According to a response (http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/JW-v-State-Presidential-Vaughn-00687.pdf) to a Freedom of Information Act application from Judicial Watch, on June 28, Clinton emailed Obama, who replied the same date. In Clinton’s July 2, 2016 FBI interview, the interviewing agents noted that the email was sent from Russia. Her email and Obama’s are being withheld by the State Department “pursuant to the presidential communications privilege.”
49: Reasonably likely: A Review of Various Actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice in Advance of the 2016 Election, Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, June 2018, p. 190.
50: Comey… cleared Clinton: “Statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-Mail System,” July 5, 2016.
51: Michael Gaeta visited Steele: Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump (Hachette, 2018), by Michael Isikoff and David Corn, p. 153.
52: Steele… Russian organized crime: United States House of Representatives: Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview with Bruce Ohr, p. 63.
53: Steele invited Jennings: According to his House testimony, Ohr was head of the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section from 1999-2011. Two books on the FIFA scandal—Ken Bensinger’s Red Card and Bonita Mersiades’s Whatever it Takes—report that the Chief of the DOJ’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, not named, met with Jennings in 2010 along with Steele. Ohr has not publicly acknowledged that he worked closely with Steele on the FIFA case.
54: British Parliament: “Written evidence submitted by The Sunday Times Insight Investigations Team,” by Heidi Blake and Jonathan Calvert, November 2014. http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/culture-media-and-sport-committee/the-2022-world-cup-bidding-process/written/15880.html. The report submitted to Parliament does not name Steele. However, remarks attributed in the report to “MI6 source” are identical to those attributed to Steele in Luke Harding’s 2017 book Collusion, e.g., p. 25: “Nothing was written down. Don’t expect me…” etc.
55: cybersecurity firm hired by the campaign: Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook: “Clinton campaign manager: Russians leaked Democrats’ emails to help Donald Trump,” by Amber Phillips, Washington Post, July 24, 2016.
56: Clinton campaign’s communications director: “The Clinton campaign warned you about Russia. But nobody listened to us,” by Jennifer Palmieri, Washington Post, March 24, 2017.
57: Anderson Cooper: Transcript from “Anderson Cooper: 360 Degrees,” July 29, 2016
58: Strzok was lonely: All exchanges from text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. See appendix to “Chairman Johnson Releases Interim Report Including Strzok-Page FBI Text Messages,” Senator Ron Johnson, February 7, 2018.
59: Glenn Simpson was introducing Steele: “Meet the reporters behind the Trump dossier,” by Steve Levine. Axios. October 29, 2017. “Hero or hired gun? How a British former spy became a flash point in the Russia investigation,” by Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Hederman, Washington Post, February 6, 2018. “Isikoff Stunned That His Carter Page Article Was Used To Justify Spy Warrant,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, February 2, 2018. “Christopher Steele: The Man Behind the Trump Dossier,” by Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, March 5, 2018.
60: Strzok returned from London: “Hey call me re D brief,” Strzok to Page, August 10, 2016.
61: He later testified before Congress: US House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Interview with John Brennan, May 23, 2017, p. 22
62: Brenann took credit: “How CIA Director John Brennan Targeted James Comey,” by Lee Smith, Tablet, February 9, 2018.
63: Damian Paletta: https://twitter.com/carterwpage/status/1067793120 560058368
64: Anthony Weiner: “Despite Comey Assurances, Vast Bulk of Weiner Laptop Emails Were Never Examined,” by Paul Sperry, Real Clear Investigations, August 23, 2018
65: FISA… denied: In, among other reports, “Trump ‘compromising’ claims: How and why did we get here?” by Paul Wood, BBC, January 12, 2017.
66: Clinton’s communications team: “How the Russian collusion myth was hatched by Team Hillary immediately after her loss,” by Larry O’Connor, Washington Times, May 4, 2018.
67: Susan Rice: “Grassley, Graham Uncover ‘Unusual Email’ Sent by Susan Rice to Herself on President Trump’s Inauguration Day.” Website of Senator Chuck Grassley, February 12, 2018.
68: Obama added his voice: “Obama, With Angela Merkel in Berlin, Assails Spread of Fake News,” by Gardiner Harris and Melissa Eddy, New York Times, November 17, 2016.
69: Obama partisans: “Obama’s secret struggle to punish Russia for Putin’s election assault,” by Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima and Adam Entous, Washington Post, June 23, 2017.
70: Evelyn Farkas: “Former Obama official discloses rush to get intelligence on Trump team.” Fox News, March 29, 2017.
71: Brennan’s handpicked team: Senate Committee on the Judiciary, subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. Statement of James R. Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, concerning Russian interference in the 2016 United States Elections, May 8, 2018. US House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Interview with John Brennan, May 23, 2017, p 17.
72: Alexander Bortnikov: Brennan testimony, May 23, 2017, p 11-12.
73: “bombshell” report: “Obama’s secret struggle to punish Russia for Putin’s election assault,” by Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima and Adam Entous, Washington Post, June 23, 2017.
74: The assessment’s methodological flaws: Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. January 6, 2017.
75: Stefan Halper told the Kremlin-directed media outlet: “Clinton Best Option for US-UK ‘Special Relationship’—Ex-White House Official,” Sputnik. November 3, 2016.
76: Adam Schiff… RT: “Schiff Appeared on Kremlin-Backed RT in 2013 to Discuss Push for Greater FISA Transparency,” by David Rutz, Washington Free Beacon, February 6, 2018
77: Russia Beyond… American homes: “U.S. Media Long Carried Putin’s Water-Odd, Given Facebook Uproar,” Lee Smith, Real Clear Investigations, March 9, 2018
78: RT’s US market share: “Just How Effective Is Russia’s RT?” by Damir Marusic, The American Interest, January 21, 2017.
79: CNN is… going forward: “E-mails Show FBI Brass Discussed Dossier Briefing Details With CNN,” by Sean Davis, The Federalist, May 21, 2018. A former Senate investigator, Davis was one of the most knowledgeable journalists covering the anti-Trump operation and broke several key stories.
80: Prior to meeting with the president-elect: Report of Investigation of Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey’s Disclosure of Sensitive Investigative Information and Handling of Certain Memoranda, August 2019, p. 22
81: Tapper emailed BuzzFeed: “Emails: Jake Tapper Tore Into ‘Irresponsible’ BuzzFeed Editor For Publishing The Steele Dossier,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, February 8, 2019.
82: CNN did not disclose: “CNN’s Undisclosed Ties To Fusion GPS,” Chuck Ross and Peter Hasson, October 28, 2017, Daily Caller.
83: Steele had authored the memos: “Christopher Steele, Ex-British Intelligence Officer, Said to Have Prepared Dossier on Trump,” by Bradley Hope, Michael Rothfeld and Alan Cullison, Wall Street Journal, January 11, 2017.
84: Felix Sater had directed… Michael Cohen: “Trump Associate Boasted That Moscow Business Deal ‘Will Get Donald Elected,’” by Matt Apuzzo and Maggie Haberman, New York Times, August 28, 2017. Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, p. 74.
85: Obama… press release: “FACT SHEET: Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment,” The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. December 29, 2016.
86: WikiLeaks… foreign intelligence services: “How did WikiLeaks become associated with Russia?” Cathryn Watson, CBS News, November 15, 2017.
87: Putin… visited Volgograd: President of Russia, English-language website, Trip to Volgograd. August 15, 2016. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/trips/52727. “Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s fugitive ex-president, just sailed into Volgograd on a triple-decker yacht,” Meduza, August 19, 2016.
88: University of California: Reporting on International Corruption (3rd Annual Logan Symposium 2009). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQc4muYCl7Y&list=PLxKbSie2Bcux5s9-Imj8eM60SroHqw6c9&index=3&t=0s
89: Times more than a decade: “The Times Announces Digital Subscription Plan,” by Jeremy W. Peters, New York Times, March 17, 2011
90: All these newspapers: “The Aspiring Novelist Who Became Obama’s Foreign-Policy Guru,” by David Samuels. New York Times Magazine, May 5, 2016.
91: Obama… warned Trump: “Obama Warned Trump About Hiring Flynn, Officials Say,” by Michael D. Shear, New York Times, May 8, 2017
92: The president-elect was bewildered: Committee on the Judiciary, US House of Representatives, June 19, 2019 “Interview of Hope Hicks,” p. 191
93: Strzok… worried: Committee on the Judiciary, US House of Representatives, June 27, 2018. Interview of Peter Strzok, p. 44.
94: Nick Hopkins: Michael Flynn: Hopkins was one of three bylines, with Luke Harding and Stephanie Kirchgaessner, on a March 31, 2017 Guardian story about Flynn and Lokhova, “New evidence spy chiefs had concerns about Russian ties.”
95: Either Flynn had misled Pence: “National security adviser Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador, despite denials, officials say,” by Greg Miller, Adam Entous, and Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, February 9, 2017.
96: December 28: Mueller Report, vol. 1, p. 169.
97: The FBI director admitted: “Ex-FBI Director Comey Explains How He Took Advantage of Fledgling Trump Administration,” by Susan Jones, CNS News, December 14, 2018
98: McCabe called Flynn: The Threat: How the F.B.I. Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 2019), by Andrew McCabe, p. 200
99: Strzok and another FBI agent: FBI Interview with Michael Flynn, January 24, 2017, entered February 15, 2017. “Why Is The FBI Muzzling The Only Person With Credibility Left in The Flynn Investigation: FBI SSA Joe Pientka III,” by Sara Carter, SaraCarter.com, December 17, 2018. Carter’s reporting, print and broadcast, was invaluable in uncovering details of the anti-Trump operation.
100: Sally Yates: “Justice Department warned White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail, officials say,” by Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima and Philip Rucker, Washington Post, February 13, 2017.
101: This is totally opposite: The Threat, McCabe, p. 203
102: New Jersey governor: “Trump Thought Firing Flynn Would End ‘Russia Thing,’ Chris Christie Writes in Book,” by Maggie Haberman, New York Times, January 27, 2019.
103: Post adopted a new motto: “The Washington Post’s new slogan turns out to be an old saying,” by Paul Farhi, Washington Post, February 24, 2017.
104: Howard Kurtz at Fox News: “The Media Backlash Against Howard Kurtz’s Media Madness,” by Lloyd Grove, Daily Beast, February 9, 2018.
105: Trump’s January conversations: “‘This was the worst call by far’: Trump badgered, bragged and abruptly ended phone call with Australian leader,” by Greg Miller and Philip Rucker, Washington Post, February 2, 2017. “After testy call with Trump over border wall, Mexican president shelves plan to visit White House,” by Philip Rucker, Joshua Partlow and Nick Miroff, Washington Post, February 24, 2018.
106: Her testimony was leaked: “Rice told House investigators why she unmasked senior Trump officials,” by Manu Raju, CNN, September 18, 2017.
107: Nunes went on CNN: Interview with Wolf Blitzer. “Rep. Devin Nunes’ entire CNN interview,” March 27, 2017
108: Another story that sticks out in Langer’s mind: “2 White House Officials Helped Give Nunes Intelligence Reports,” by Matthew Rosenberg, Maggie Haberman and Adam Goldman, New York Times, March 30, 2017.
109: John Batchelor: Adam “Pathfinder” Schiff: Stalking the Kremlin or the Chupacabra?” By Thaddeus G. McCotter, American Greatness, July 11, 2017
110: Adam Schiff and media pundits: “Full transcript: FBI Director James Comey testifies on Russian interference in 2016 election,” Washington Post, March 20, 2017.
111: Nunes’s committee interviewed officials: Even though HPSCI voted in September 2018 to publish all its interview transcripts from the Russia investigation after a declassification review by the DNI, as of this writing DNI continues to hold the bulk of them.
112: Dianne Feinstein: “Democrats Seek Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Election Interference,” by Charlie Savage and Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, March 7, 2017.
113: Trump had asked Comey about his testimony: “Comey Memos Full Text: Trump Allegedly Discussed Putin, Russian Prostitutes, Clinton Investigation,” by Nicole Goodkind, April 19, 2018, Newsweek.
114: Rosenstein wrote a memo: “‘Shaken’ Rosenstein Felt Used by White House in Comey Firing,” by Michael S. Schmidt and Adam Goldman, New York Times, June 29, 2018.
115: Rosenstein… raised with McCabe: “Rod Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Recording Trump and Discussed 25th Amendment,” by Adam Goldman and Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, September 21, 2018. Washington Post’s Devlin Barrett and Matt Zapotosky published what amounted to a Rosenstein rebuttal hours later in “McCabe memos say Rosenstein considered secretly recording Trump.”
116: The acting FBI director said he was worried: McCabe, The Threat, p.225
117: Andrew McCabe called for a… briefing: “McCabe told Congress ‘Gang of 8’ leaders about FBI probe into Trump. They had no objection,” by Allan Smith, Alex Moe and Frank Thorp V, NBC News, February 19, 2019.
118: The acting FBI director wanted the chairman: McCabe, The Threat, p 244, 5.
119: new funding source: “Former Feinstein Staffer Raised $50 Million, Hired Fusion GPS And Christopher Steele After 2016 Election,” by Sean Davis, Federalist, April 27, 2018. “Dark Money Org Gave $2 Million To Group Working With Fusion GPS, Steele,” Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, March 10, 2019.
120: Weissmann: “Mueller deputy praised DOJ official after she defied Trump travel ban order: ‘I am so proud,’” by Catherine Herridge, Fox News, December 5, 2017.
121: hunting party: “Mueller probe: Meet the lawyers who gave $$ to Hillary, now investigating team Trump,” by Brooke Singman, Fox News, July 24, 2017. “Judicial Watch Obtains DOJ Documents Showing Andrew Weissmann Leading Hiring Effort for Mueller Special Counsel,” May 14, 2019. The work of Judicial Watch and Tom Fitton in obtaining, and explaining, documents related to the anti-Trump operation, was instrumental in revealing the nature and scope of the extra-constitutional methods US law enforcement employed to overturn an election.
122: Kevin Clinesmith: Multiple sources identified Clinesmith as Attorney 2 in the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Justice, A Review of Various Actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice in Advance of the 2016 Election, June 11, 2018, p. 417 ff. “FBI Lawyer Who Sent Anti-Trump ‘Resistance’ Text Message Interviewed George Papadopoulos,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, June 25, 2018. “The Late, Not-So-Great Mueller Investigation,” by Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, March 26, 2019.
123: The post-9/11 FBI: “A New Era of National Security, 2001-2008.” https://www.fbi.gov/history/brief-history/a-new-era-of-national-security
124: anthrax mailed: “When Comey and Mueller Bungled the Anthrax Case,” by Carl M. Cannon, Real Clear Politics, May 21, 2017.
125: dirty FBI agents: “Mueller’s hands dirty in old FBI frame-up,” By Howie Carr, Boston Herald, January 30, 2019.
126: I like putting people in jail: “Mueller in 2014: ‘I Became A Prosecutor Because I Like Putting People In Jail,’” Patrick Hawley, Big League Politics, December 18, 2017.
127: Eric Swalwell… Fusion GPS’s lawyer: “Nunes signs off on new subpoenas to firm behind Trump-Russia dossier,” by Evan Perez, Manu Raju, and Jeremy Herb, CNN, October 11, 2017
128: Elias had briefed… Robby Mook: “Elias broadly summarized some of the information to top campaign officials, including the campaign manager, Robby Mook,” Mayer, The New Yorker, March 5, 2018.
129: September 23: “Hillary for America Statement on Bombshell Report About Trump Aide’s Chilling Ties To Kremlin,” archived at The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/hillary-for-america-statement-bombshell-report-about-trump-aides-chilling-ties-kremlin
130: October 19: “15 Facts About Donald Trump’s Deeply Unsetting Russia Problem And WikiLeaks,” Hillary for America Press, October 19, 2016.
131: Maggie Haberman… Kenneth Vogel: https://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/922962880206647297?lang=en; https://twitter.com/kenvogel/status/922955410327425027?lang=en
132: Bank records showed: “Fusion GPS Bank Records Show Russia-Related Payments,” by Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, November 21, 2017.
133: Nellie Ohr… was employed: US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview of Nellie Ohr, October 19, 2018, August 28, 2018, p. 8-9. US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview of Bruce Ohr, p. 113.
134: The twelve 302s: Heavily redacted versions of the FBI interviews were released August 8, 2019 to Judicial Watch.
135: Russia community: US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview of Nellie Ohr, October 18, 2018, p. 24
136: David Kramer: “John McCain Associate Had Contact With A Dozen Reporters Regarding Steele Dossier,” Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, March 14, 2019
137: Kathleen Kavalec: “Citizens United FOIA Document Release–CU Releases Kavalec Memo & Related Records,” May 10, 2019.
138: Nuland and Winer’s stories didn’t match: “Victoria Nuland says Obama State Dept. informed FBI of reporting from Steele dossier,” by Emily Tillett, CBS News, February 4, 2018.
139: Anne Applebaum: Few opinion writers used their perch to push the “collusion” narrative as prolifically as Applebaum. In addition to the two July 2016 columns discussed earlier, among her Washington Post columns devoted to the Trump-Russia narrative are: “Stop obsessing over ‘secrets’ about Trump and Russia. What we already know is bad enough,” January 13, 2017. “The critical questions on Russia,” March 26, 2017. “Don’t forget those smiling images of Trump and the Russians,” May 11, 2017. “The Russian-American relationship is no longer about Russia or America,” July 7, 2017. “This law might explain why a Russian lawyer wanted to meet with Trump,” July 11, 2017. “The ugly way Trump’s rise and Putin’s are connected,” July 25, 2017. “The case for Trump-Russia collusion: We’re getting very, very close,” September 8, 2017. “Did Russia teach Paul Manafort all its dirty tricks?” October 30, 2017. “It’s not just Russia anymore,” April 6, 2018. “This is how Putin buys influence in the West,” June 15, 2018. “Trump is hinting at concessions to Putin. So what do we get back?” July 6, 2018. “Did Putin share stolen election data with Trump?” July 20, 2018. “The Trump-Putin revelations tell us what we knew all along,” January 13, 2019. “Why was Trump so afraid of the Mueller investigation? We may never know,” April 19, 2019.
140: Simpson had committed a felony: US House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Interview of Glenn Simpson, November 14, 2017, p. 78.
141: McCabe… testified before the committee: US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview with Andrew McCabe, December 17, 2017.
142: Downer was… an ally of the Clintons: “Australian diplomat whose tip prompted FBI’s Russia-probe has tie to Clintons,” John Solomon and Alison Spann, The Hill, March 5, 2018.
143: The story also omitted a key detail: “The Curious Case of Mr. Downer: His story about the Papadopoulos meeting calls the FBI’s into question,” Kimberley A. Strassel, Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2018. I’m indebted here and elsewhere to Strassel’s detailed reporting and strong voice. She was one of the first journalists to unravel the relationship between law enforcement officials, the press, and Fusion GPS.
144: statement of the offense: “United States of America v George Papadopoulos.” US District Court for the District of Columbia. October 5, 2017
145: Adam Schiff: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Minority Views. March 26, 2018, p. 20
146: mysterious professor’s closest public links: “The Maltese Phantom of Russiagate” Lee Smith, Real Clear Investigations. May 30, 2018.
147: Mifsud had chaired a panel: Devin Nunes letter to Michael Pompeo, Gina Haspel, Paul Nakasone, and Christopher Wray. May 3, 2019
148: I never heard the words DNC: Executive Session. Committee on the Judiciary, joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, US House of Representatives, October 25, 2018 Interview of George Papadopoulos, p. 21.
149: Halper met with the Trump adviser: “A London Meeting Before The Election Aroused George Papadopoulos’s Suspicions,” By Chuck Ross Daily Caller. March 25, 2018. “F.B.I. Sent Investigator Posing as Assistant to Meet With Trump Aide in 2016.” New York Times May 2, 2019. Adam Goldman, Michael S. Schmidt, and Mark Mazzetti.
For Papadopoulos’ account, listen to Dan Bongino’s podcast interview with Papadopoulos linked at “The Papadopoulos Interview—Explosive Revelations You Need to Know,” by Matt Palumbo, bongino.com, November 3, 2018. A former New York City Policeman and Secret Service officer, Bongino provided outstanding analysis of the anti-Trump operation, especially regarding law enforcement issues.
150: The pair asked Papadopoulos: “The damning proof of innocence that FBI likely withheld in Russian probe,” by John Solomon, The Hill, March 4, 2019. Solomon’s deeply sourced reporting uncovering countless details of the anti-Trump operation make him one of the indispensable journalists covering the story.
151: FBI agents interviewed Papadopoulos: “United States of America v George Papadopoulos,” United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Government’s Sentencing Memorandum, page 4, footnote 2.
152: Mifsud was in Washington, DC: The FBI interviewed Mifsud in his hotel lobby February 10, 2017. Mueller Report, p 193.
153: Hamilton 68: Key Democrats urge social media companies to investigate Russia-linked accounts, Patricia Zengerle, Reuters, January 23, 2018
154: Articles in the Washington Post and on the Daily Beast: “How a classified four-page Russia memo triggered a political firestorm,” Washington Post, January 29, 2018 By Matt Zapotosky, Karoun Demirjian, Robert Costa and Ellen Nakashima. “The ‘Nunes Memo’ Ripping the Justice Department Was Written by Former Justice Department Lawyer,” The Daily Beast, Betsy Woodruff. February 2, 2018
155: Wittes: “Thoughts on the Nunes Memo: We Need to Talk About Devin,” Quinta Jurecic, Shannon Togawa Mercer, Benjamin Wittes, Lawfare, February 2, 2018
156: HPSCI voted to release: “Redacted Democratic Response to Nunes Memo Defends FBI Surveillance Of Trump Aide,” by Martina Stewart NPR, February 24, 2018
157: According to Strzok: Committee on the Judiciary, US House of Representatives, June 27, 2018, Interview of Peter Strzok, pages 44-45.
158: Lisa Page corroborated Strzok’s explanation: Committee on the Judiciary, US House of Representatives, July 13, 2018. Interview of Lisa Page, P. 44. “Transcripts of Lisa Page’s Closed-Door Testimonies Provide New Revelations in Spygate Scandal,” by Jeff Carlson, Epoch Times, January 11, 2019. Carlson contributed numerous important articles detailing the anti-Trump operation, as did several of his Epoch Times colleagues, such as Brian Cates.
159: Nunes’ public statements: eg. “Nunes: Trump’s Declassification Order Will Help Explain the Strzok-Page ‘Insurance Policy,’” Susan Jones, CNS News, September 18, 2018.
160: Memo was further reinforced: “Criminal Referral Confirms Nunes Memo’s Explosive Claims Of FISA Abuse,” by Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist, February 7, 2018.
161: The second significant document: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Report on Russian Active Measures, March 22, 2018.
162: Glenn Kessler: “The unsupported claim that James Clapper tipped Jake Tapper about the dossier,” by Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, May 3, 2018. According to Kessler, Clapper told him the Republican report “‘deliberately conflated’ his interview to make it appear he had spoken to Tapper in January, but he insisted that was not the case.” However, Sean Davis noted in The Federalist (May 3, 2018) that the report filed by HPSCI Democrats (“Minority Views,” March 26, 2018, p. 61) made the same assessment. An unnamed “spokesman for the Democrats” told Kessler to ignore the documentary record and take his anonymous word for it. “Having now read that section again,” said the Democratic spokesman, “I can see how you think the Minority in its Views is referring to [Clapper’s] time as DNI; but that would be an incorrect reading.”
163: HPSCI sent a classified letter: “Secret intelligence source who aided Mueller probe is at center of latest clash between Nunes and Justice Dept.,” by Robert Costa, Carol D. Leonnig, Devlin Barrett and Shane Harris, Washington Post, May 8, 2018
164: Pulitzer: https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/staffs-new-york-times-and-washington-post
165: Costa tweeted: https://twitter.com/costareports/status/998722625227587584?lang=en
166: Halper invites Page: “Cambridge Prof With CIA, MI6 Ties Met With Trump Adviser During Campaign, Beyond,” Chuck Ross, Daily Caller, May 17, 2018.
167: Dearlove… meets with Steele: “Hero or hired gun? How a British former spy became a flash point in the Russia investigation,” by Tom Hamburger and Rosalind S. Helderman, Washington Post, February 6, 2018
168: denounced Putin: “Alexander Litvinenko accused Vladimir Putin of being a paedophile four months before he was poisoned,” by Lizzie Dearden, Independent, January 21, 2016.
169: £2000 MI6: “Alexander Litvinenko was ‘a paid consultant’ for MI6,” BBC, February 2, 2015.
170: Italians had set up a commission: “The Litvinenko murder: Scaramella : The Italian Connection,” by Lauren Veevers, Independent, December 3, 2006.
171: Litvinenko… Prodi: “Why a spy was killed,” by Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy, Guardian, January 26, 2008
172: Litvinenko’s information: ibid
173: Litvinenko’s murder was a Russian state operation: “Donald Trump dossier: intelligence sources vouch for author’s credibility,” by Nick Hopkins and Luke Harding, Guardian, January 12, 2017. In July 2008, a senior British security official leaked to media sources that “we very strongly believe the Litvinenko case to have had some state involvement; there are very strong indications that it was a state action.” “Litvinenko killing ‘had state involvement,’” by Mark Urban, BBC July 7, 2008. The leak was unauthorized: “No intelligence or security officials were authorized to comment on the Litvinenko case,” a British government spokesman said at the time. “Britain seeks to defuse row with Russia over Alexander Litvinenko murder,” by Jon Swaine, Telegraph, July 11, 2008.
174: Steele left MI6: According to Mayer’s March 2018 New Yorker profile: “In 2008, Steele informed M.I.6 that he planned to leave the service and open a commercial intelligence firm… He left in good standing, but his exit was hastened, because M.I.6 regarded his plans as a potential conflict of interest.” Intelligence sources I interviewed cannot explain what conflict of interest would be resolved with an early departure from active service.
175: Steele… shared these memos: “Devin Nunes is investigating me. Here’s the truth,” by Jonathan Winer, Washington Post, February 8, 2018.
176: Jonathan Winer introduced Steele: “Citizens United FOIA Document Release–CU Releases Kavalec Memo & Related Records,” May 10, 2019.
177: Surkov was a well-known figure: “Ex-rebel leaders detail role played by Putin aide in east Ukraine,” by Anton Zverev, Reuters, May 11, 2017.
178: Bruce Ohr… confirmed: United States House of Representatives: Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Interview with Bruce Ohr, p. 27
179: Pentagon-funded project: “The Russia-China Relationship: The Impact on the United States’ Security Interests,” Project Director Professor Stefan Halper, p. 8.
180: The evidence points: Sources told Washington Post reporters Tom Hamburger, Robert Costa, and Ellen Nakashima for a June 5, 2018 article (“How the Trump echo chamber pushes bit players like Stefan Halper to center stage”) that “Halper and Steele are not acquainted and did not work together during the 2016 campaign season.” That is no more believable than the Ohrs’ claim they didn’t know Steele was working on Trump-Russia reporting until he told them in July 2016.
181: Rowan Scarborough: “FBI spy Stefan Halper’s $240,000 Pentagon study disavowed by high-profile experts,” by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times. October 1, 2018.
182: John Heileman: “MSNBC analyst suggests Devin Nunes is a Russian agent for penning secret FBI memo.” Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, January 30, 2018
183: Ryan Lizza: Ryan Lizza’s Hit Piece On Devin Nunes’ Extended Family Is Deeply Flawed, Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist, October 2, 2018. Hemingway was among the fiercest critics: in her articles, as well as on social media, and television: of the establishment media’s advocacy of the Russiagate conspiracy theory.
184: special counsel was based on the dossier: “The Scope of Investigation and Definition of Authority,” August 2, 2017 memorandum from Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein to Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III.
185: Weissmann announces: “Top Mueller Prosecutor Stepping Down In Latest Clue Russia Inquiry May Be Ending,” Carrie Johnson. NPR, March 14, 2019
186: William Barr: My understanding of Barr’s memo is informed by pseudonymous twitter user Undercover Huber, in particular an April 17, 2019 thread: https://twitter.com/JohnWHuber/status/1118643987487887361. Undercover Huber was one of a number of independent researchers whose work proved invaluable in discovering and deciphering documents. Others important researchers working pseudonymously include Twitter users like Techno Fog, Last Refuge, RosieMemos, TracyBeanz—there are too many to include here but I am indebted to them all, evidence that the American public not only wants accurate and detailed news and reporting but can produce it as well.
187: Mueller’s tactics: “The False Evidence Against Scooter Libby,” by Peter Berkowitz, Wall Street Journal, April 6, 2015.
188: Rosenstein had announced: “Rod Rosenstein to leave DOJ in mid-March,” David Mark and Daniel Chaitin, Washington Examiner. February 18, 2019.
189: Mueller… TV appearance: “Special Counsel Robert Mueller Statement on Russia Investigation,” C-Span. May 29, 2019
190: Schiff conducted a public hearing: “2 Former FBI Officials Appear At Latest Hearing On Russian Political Interference,” Mary Louis Kelly. NPR, June 12, 2019. Andrew McCarthy also appeared at the invitation of the HPSCI minority.
191: I’m coming to clean up the mess. “Nunes sues Twitter, some users, seeks over $250M alleging anti-conservative ‘shadow bans,’ smears,” Gregg Re and Catherine Herridge. Fox News. March 18, 2019. Nunes files $150M lawsuit against McClatchy, alleging conspiracy to derail Clinton, Russia probes,” Gregg Re. Fox News. April 8, 2019.
192: Steven Biss: Biss also represented Svetlana Lokhova in her May 23, 2019 defamation suit filed against Stefan Halper, Dow Jones & Co (owner of Wall Street Journal; New York Times; Washington Post; and NBC.
193: Cleta Mitchell: “Bruce Ohr Revealed Political Operatives Got The FBI To Investigate The NRA, by Margot Cleveland, The Federalist, March 14, 2019. Cleveland’s prescient articles illuminated many of the legal issues underlying the anti-Trump operation.
194: Davidson followed up: “Senators Ask for an Investigation into Trump Dealings in Azerbaijan,” Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, March 30, 2017.
195: Dean Baquet: “The New York Times Unites vs. Twitter,” by Ashley Feinberg, Slate, August 15, 2019. “From Russian Collusion Hoaxing to White Supremacy Hysteria,” Julie Kelly, American Greatness, August 8, 2019. I’m indebted to Kelly’s sharp reporting—and even sharper criticism of the hypocrisies of Left and Never Trump Republican media.
196: eight criminal referrals: “Nunes to send eight criminal referrals to DOJ concerning leaks, conspiracy amid Russia probe,” Gregg Re. Fox News. April 7, 2019.