A legal watchdog organization has requested an investigation into the potential concealment of documents related to the Steele Dossier, which was central to allegations of Russian collusion against President Trump. This request comes after recent revelations regarding possible wrongdoing by various federal agencies.
1. Request for Investigation: The Southeastern Legal Foundation has asked the U. S. Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether the FBI, CIA, and ODNI concealed documents pertinent to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests concerning the Steele Dossier.
2. Background of Concealment: The request was precipitated by declassified documents from the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, that reveal efforts to hide evidence about the controversial dossier, which was utilized to support the narrative of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
3. Claims of Fraudulent Concealment: The Southeastern Legal Foundation accuses key intelligence agencies of fraudulently withholding documents related to communications about the Steele Dossier, which was funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
4. Calls for Accountability: In light of these findings, the Foundation is urging the special counsel to report any identified legal violations to the President and the Attorney General for appropriate action. They argue that the public deserves transparency regarding potential misconduct in the Russia investigation.
5. Evidence of Political Manipulation: Recent reports suggest that senior officials within the Obama administration, including the FBI and CIA, used the Steele Dossier as a basis for claims about Russian attempts to aid Trump’s presidential campaign, despite its unverified and debunked content.
6. Consequences for the Clinton Campaign: The Federal Election Commission previously fined Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee for failing to disclose the payments made to fund the Steele Dossier, which were misrepresented as legal expenditures.
7. Further Investigations: Gabbard has shared evidence labeled as a “treasonous conspiracy” that reportedly shows how intelligence was manipulated to undermine Trump’s presidency, alleging wrongdoing by top officials. The Justice Department is reviewing these claims.
8. Recent declassifications: New evidence includes emails and intelligence reports indicating that earlier assessments (September 2016) did not raise concerns about Russian backing of Trump, which contradicts later narratives presented in the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) from December 2016.
9. Political Fallout: The controversy has led to criticisms of how intelligence was handled during the 2016 election, with implications that attempts to influence the election results have gone unpunished, raising questions about the politicization of intelligence agencies.
The Southeastern Legal Foundation’s request for an investigation highlights serious concerns regarding government transparency and the integrity of the intelligence community during the 2016 election. As new evidence surfaces, the implications for key figures involved, including former President Obama and Hillary Clinton, continue to unfold. The ongoing inquiry seeks to hold those responsible accountable for potential misconduct and to restore public trust in governmental operations.
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