Bruce Ohr’s relationship with Christopher Steele via texts and emails has been thrust into the spotlight recently. The texts and emails are between Ohr and Steele but involve other parties as well. Descriptions of the major parties are listed further below.
Ohr has been described as a long-time friend of Steele with a relationship going back to at least 2006 (this includes Ohr’s wife Nellie).
Worth noting, Adam Waldman represented both Oleg Deripaska and Sergey Lavrov. More newly discovered is Waldman’s representation of Christopher Steele and Julian Assange.
Steele appears to have been lobbying on behalf of Oleg Deripaska – raising questions of Deripaska’s role in the Dossier. At this point it’s not clear if Steele was employed by Deripaska – but it sure feels that way. This question was first raised by Grassley in February 2018. In a response from Paul Hauser, an attorney for Deripaska, no firm answer was given.
Copies of the Ohr/Steele texts, along with several documents and emails can be found in an August 7, 2018 article and an August 8, 2018 article by John Solomon. Emails (no documents provided) are discussed in an article by Byron York.
On August 7, 2018, we discussed the first Solomon article in Is Julian Assange “Our Guy”. Some have speculated that Deripaska is “Our Guy”. This remains a possibility – but I would note that in the Byron York article, Deripaska is specifically delineated by name or initialing.
Emails from the York article will be examined below. Several quick points:
- Steele is clearly advocating on behalf of Deripaska during several points of communication. Specifically in the initial emails.
- On July 1, 2016 the focus shifts to Trump – and timing of Ohr/Steele contact centers around ongoing Dossier Memo production by Steele.
- Simpson has contact w/Ohr on August 22, 2016 – in contrast w/Congressional testimony.
- Multiple contacts occur on October 18-19, 2016 – email, Skype, calls.
- Nellie Ohr joined Fusion GPS somewhere around March 2016.
Given their long-standing relationship, contact between Ohr and Steele almost certainly began earlier than the documents suggest.
January 12 2016 – Steele sends Ohr a New Year’s greeting. Steele brings up the case of Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska (referred to in various emails as both OD and OVD), who was at the time seeking a visa to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in the United States:
Steele: I heard from Adam Waldman yesterday that OD is applying for another official US visa ice [sic] APEC business at the end of February.” Deripaska is being “encouraged by the Agency guys who told Adam that the USG [United States Government] stance on [Deripaska] is softening…A positive development it seems.
Notable events around this period:
- November 2015-April 2016 – The FBI and NSD uses private contractors to access raw FISA information using “To” and “From” FISA-702(16) & “About” FISA-702(17) queries.
- December 18, 2015 – Papadopoulos’ interview with Natural Gas Europe. Per these sources, Papadopoulos is already employed with London Centre of International Law Practice (LCILP).
- December 28 2015 – Strzok text: “You get all our oconus lures approved?” OCONUS is an acronym for Outside of the Continental United States.
- Paul Manafort is under FISA surveillance at this time.
February 8 2016 – Deripaska is brought up again. He has been granted a Visa to visit the United States:
Steele: Our old friend OD apparently has been granted another official visa to come to the US later this month…As far as I’m concerned, this is good news all round although as before, it would be helpful if you could monitor it and let me know if any complications arise.”
Ohr: To the extent I can I will keep an eye on the situation.
No further events to note.
February 21 2016 – “Re: OVD – Visit To The US.” – Steele tells Ohr he had talked to Waldman and to Paul Hauser, who was Deripaska’s London lawyer.
Steele: An inter-agency meeting on him [Deripaska] this week which I guess you [Ohr] will be attending. [Steele was] circulating some recent sensitive Orbis reporting [on Deripaska]. We reckon therefore that the forthcoming OVD contact represents a good opportunity for the USG.
Steele says he will send the Orbis reporting to a name that is redacted in the email, “as he has asked, for legal reasons I understand, for all such reporting be filtered through him (to you at DoJ and others).”
Notable events around this period:
- Late February 2016 – Papadopoulos more commonly acknowledged to have joined London Centre of International Law Practice (LCILP) after leaving Ben Carson’s campaign. Some reports indicate Papadopoulos joined in November 2015 – the same time as Mifsud. They reportedly never cross paths or meet until March 14, 2016.
- Feb. 29 2016 – Manafort reaches out to Trump Campaign. The two sides begin talking. Manafort is under FISA Surveillance at this time.
- February/March 2016 – Trump’s securing of GOP nomination seen as probable.
March 17 20016 – Steele sends email asking if Ohr has any update on plans to visit Europe “in the near term where we could meet up.”
Ohr says no. Offers call. Unclear if call occurred.
Notable events around this period:
- Early March 2016 – Fusion approaches DNC law firm Perkins Coie about being hired to continue opposition research into the Trump Campaign.
- March 9 2016 – NSA Director Rogers becomes aware of improper access to raw FISA data.
- March 9 2016 – Page sends text referencing “HUGE f-up”.
- March 14 2016 – Brennan travels to Moscow. Meets with Russia’s federal intelligence agency Federal Security Service.
- March 14 2016 – Papadopoulos first meets Mifsud in Italy – approximately one week after finding out he will be joining the Trump team.
- March 16 2016 – Strzok text: “Our guy is talking.”
July 1 2016 – Apparent first mention of Candidate-Trump:
Steele: I am seeing [redacted] in London next week to discuss ongoing business but there is something separate I wanted to discuss with you informally and separately. It concerns our favourite business tycoon!
In addition to the Trump reference, Steele is probably referring to a meeting with FBI Agent Mike Gaeta in London on July 5, 2016.
Notable Events around this period:
- June 9 2016 – Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, Rinat Akhmetshin and Natalia Veselnitskaya. Simpson meets w/Veselnitskaya before and after TT meeting.
- June 20 2016 – The first memo in the Steele Dossier notes: “A dossier of compromising information on Hillary Clinton has been collated by the Russian Intelligence Services.” Steele sends it to Fusion GPS via enciphered mail.
- June 2016 – Steele meets in Rome with FBI Agent from Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Squad with whom Steele had worked on FIFA Scandal.
- Late June 2016 – First draft of Trump Dossier shared w/Fusion.
- July 1 2016 – Victoria Nuland grants permission for FBI Agent Mike Gaeta to meet with Steele in London.
- July 5 2016 – FBI Agent Gaeta meets with Steele in London – is given copy of Dossier.
July 29 2016 – Steele: [I’ll] be in DC at short notice on business.
Notable events around this period:
- July 22 2016 – Australia supposedly tells FBI of Papadopoulos/Downer meeting – this is the stated point at which Papadopoulos lands on FBI’s radar. Note: Kim Strassel has reported that Downer passed the information directly to the US Embassy in London.
- ~July 23-25 2016 – Papadopoulos meets with Sergei Millian. This meeting appears nowhere in either legal document relating to the Papadopoulos case.
- July 24 2016 – Clinton Campaign manager Robbie Mook suggests Russian Government is behind release of DNC emails.
- Late July 2016 – Undated Steele Memo alleges “a well developed conspiracy of cooperation” between Trump associates and the Kremlin…recent release of internal DNC emails by WikiLeaks was undertaken in exchange for Trump sidelining Ukraine as a campaign issue.”
- July 26 2016 – Steele Memo describing extensive Russian government hacking operation.
- July 27, 2016 – Trump invokes Russia at press conference: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,”
- July 30 2016 – Steele Memo alleges eight-year Russian effort to cultivate Trump. Says Kremlin worried of political fallout from DNC email hack.
- July 31 2016 – FBI opens Counterintelligence Investigation into Trump-Russia connections.
July 30 2016 – A breakfast meeting between Steel and Bruce & Nellie Ohr takes place.
Notable events around this period – same as July 29, 2016 plus:
- Late July/Early August 2016 – Brennan briefs Obama and three senior Obama Advisors. Brennan suggests Russia is helping Trump.
- August 2-3 2016 – Strzok travels to London to meet unknown party at Australian Embassy. Strzok likely interviews Downer.
- August 5 2016 – Steel Memo notes growing backlash in Kremlin to DNC Email hack and Trump support operation. Identifies Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as a key figure in the DNC hack.
- August 10 2016 – Steele Memo claims Putin is generally satisfied with anti-Clinton efforts to date. Notes Kremlin support for General Flynn and Green Party Candidate Jill Stein.
- August 10 2016 – Separate Steele Memo says DNC email leaks aimed at switching Sanders voters to Trump.
August 22 2016 -Ohr receives email from Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson:
Simpson: Can u ring.
Ohr’s log lists contact with Simpson. Notably Simpson told Congress he had no contact with Ohr until after Thanksgiving 2016 – and the election.
Notable events around this period:
- August 15 2016 – Strzok sends “insurance policy” text referencing Deputy FBI Director McCabe.
- August 2016 – After a month or more of no contact, the FBI asks Steele for all information in his possession.
- August 19 2016 – Paul Manafort “resigns” from Trump Campaign amidst reports of foreign lobbying efforts.
- August 22 2016 – Steele Memo claims payments to Manafort from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
September 16 2016 – Steele: [I’ll be in Washington soon] on business of mutual interest.
September 21 2016 – Steele: Keen to meet up with you after my scheduled meetings.
September 23 2016 – Steele and Ohr have a breakfast meeting in Washington.
Notable events around this period:
- September 2016 – Steele and Winer meet in Washington and “discuss the information now known as the “dossier”. Winer prepares a two-page summary of the Dossier and shares it with Nuland.
- Mid-September 2016 – The FBI’s Counterintelligence Investigative Team obtains Steele’s Dossier for first time per Adam Schiff Memo.
- Late September 2016 – Steele and Simpson meet with the Washington Post for two hours.
- September 23 2016 – A Yahoo News article is published by Michael Isikoff based on leaks by Christopher Steele. The article is later used to corroborate the Steele Dossier.
October 18 2016 – Steele: If you are in Washington today, I have something quite urgent I would like to discuss with you, preferably by Skype (even before work if you can).
A Skype call takes place immediately following the email.
October 18 2016 – A second email:
Steele: Further to our Skypecon earlier today.
Hauser had asked Steele to forward to Ohr information about a dispute between the government of Ukraine and RUSAL, Deripaska’s aluminum company.
Steele: Naturally, he [Hauser] wants to protect the client’s [Deripaska’s] interests and reputation. I pass it on for what it’s worth.
Several hours later a second Skype call is had. Phone calls also occur on October 19, 2016.
Notable events around this period:
- October 3, 2016 – Steele meets in Rome with FBI Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Squad Team. Steele is asked to “explain how he had compiled his reports, and to give background on his sources.
- Early/Mid-October 2016 – New FISA Warrant on Manafort likely issued. Possibly a National Security Letter.
- Mid October 2016 – Steele meets with reporters again.
- October 20 2016 – Steele Memo highlights a Cohen meeting with Kremlin officials in EU in August 2016. The meeting will be identified in a later Memo as occurring in Prague.
- Late October 2016 – Steel meets with David Corn of Mother Jones via Skype leading to Corn’s October 31, 2016 article.
- October 20 2016 – Rogers is briefed by NSA compliance officer on 702 NSA compliance audit and “About” query violations.
- October 21 2016 – Rogers shuts down all “About Query” activity. Reports activity to DOJ and prepares to go before FISA Court.
- October 21 2016 – DOJ & FBI seek and receive a Title I FISA probable cause order authorizing electronic surveillance on Carter Page.
November 21 2016 – Ohr receives an email from Kathleen Kavalec, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State – Bureau of European Affairs:
Kavalec sent Ohr information on Simon Kukes, a Russian-born executive who contributed more than $250,000 to Trump-supporting organizations after Trump won the Republican nomination.
Kavalec: Just re-looking at my notes from my convo with Chris Steele. I see that Chris said Kukes has some connection to Serge Millian, an emigre who is identified by FT as head of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce.
Millian is reported to be Source D and E in the Dossier.
Notable events around this period:
- Early November 2016 (post Trump’s Election win) – Steele provided a full review of his findings for a senior British official. Steele had told the FBI in Rome he would take this step in the event of a Trump victory.
- Mid-November 2016 – Steel and Wood meet for a second time. Sir Andrew Wood approaches Steele after the election “to discuss whether they needed to take further steps to ensure the U.S. government was aware of his information.”
- November 18-20 2016 – Wood tells John McCain of the Steele Dossier at the Halifax International Security Forum.
December 12 2016 – Per Ohr’s phone log:
Ohr: Glenn Simpson. Some more news. Spoke with him.
This notation may relate to a December 10, 2016 meeting referenced in a John Solomon article:
Simpson told then-Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr during the Dec. 10, 2016, meeting in a Washington coffee shop that he believed Trump’s longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, was the “go-between from Russia to the Trump campaign.”
Yet, Simpson allegedly acknowledged that most of the information Fusion GPS and British intelligence operative Christopher Steele developed did not come from sources inside Moscow. “Much of the collection about the Trump campaign ties to Russia comes from a former Russian intelligence officer (? not entirely clear) who lives in the U.S.,” Ohr scribbled in his notes.
Ohr made clear he took possession of some evidence from Simpson, writing: “Glen gave me a memory stick.”
Rinat Akhmetshin is a possible candidate as the “former Russian intelligence officer”. Akhmetshin is a Russian-American lobbyist and former Soviet counterintelligence officer. Akhmetshin attended the Trump Tower Meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya.
Notable events around this period:
- December 8 2016 – McCain gives Comey copy of Steele Dossier.
- December 9 2016 – Brennan provides CIA Assessment to Obama – Russia conducted hacking operations to prevent Hillary Clinton from winning presidency.
- December 9 2016 – Obama orders a full review of Russian-election hacking.
- December 13 2016 – Steele writes his final Dossier Memo. Asserts a Michael Cohen August meeting occurred in Prague. Cohen has never been to Prague
January 20 2017 – Email from Simpson:
Simpson: Can you call me please?
Notable events around this period:
- January 10 2017 – Steele Dossier released by Buzzfeed and reported on by CNN.
- January 12 2017 – The DOJ’s Office of Inspector General announces initiation of a review into actions taken by the DOJ and FBI in advance of the 2016 election.
- January 19 2017 – The NYT reports that several agencies — the FBI, CIA, NSA and Treasury are monitoring several associates of the Trump campaign suspected of Russian ties.
- January 19 2017 – Obama’s top intelligence and law-enforcement deputies meet to talk about Flynn’s conversation with Kislyak.
- January 20 2017 – President Trump’s Inauguration.
- January 20 2017 – Susan Rice sends email regarding January 5, 2017 meeting to herself.
Parties included, mentioned, or closely related in the Ohr/Steele emails:
Bruce Ohr is a former Associate Deputy Attorney General. Ohr was demoted twice. Stripped of Associate Deputy Attorney General title on December 6, 2017. Removed as head of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force January 8, 2018. Unofficial liaison between Fusion GPS and FBI/DOJ. Wife – Nellie Ohr – worked at Fusion. Long-standing ties to both Christopher Steele and Glenn Simpson/Fusion GPS. Simpson and Bruce & Nellie Ohr have known each other since at least 2010. Ohr has been described as a long-time friend of Steele with a relationship going back to at least 2006 (includes Ohr’s wife Nellie). Ohr texted and emailed extensively with Steele beginning in January 2016 (likely started earlier). See here, here and here. Oleg Deripaska was discussed in emails between Ohr and Steele. Ohr appears to have a significant role in Dossier creation – see here and here. Bruce Ohr is on Devin Nunes’ interview list.
Christopher Steele – Orbis Partner – author of Steele Dossier. Employed as contractor by Fusion GPS. Former British intelligence officer with MI6 from 1987 until his retirement in 2009. Steele’s Dossier used by FBI to obtain FISA Warrant on Carter Page. Referred to DOJ by Grassley for potential violations of 18 USC 1001. Steele has known Fusion’s Simpson since at least 2009. Bruce Ohr has been described as a long-time friend of Steele with a relationship going back to at least 2006 (includes Ohr’s wife Nellie). Steele had extensive documented contact with Bruce Ohr starting in January 2016 (likely started earlier). Contact would continue through at least all of 2017. See here, here and here. Steele maintains contacts with British Intelligence, Sir Richard Dearlove and UK Intelligence firm Hakluyt. Steele appears to have been represented by Adam Waldman. Steele also appears to have lobbied on behalf of Oleg Deripaska – who was discussed in emails between Ohr and Steele. Steele Timeline here.
Glenn Simpson – Founder of Fusion GPS. Hired by the DNC and Clinton Campaign – through Perkins Coie – to produce the Steele Dossier on President Trump. The Dossier would be used by the FBI to obtain a FISA Warrant on Carter Page. Fusion GPS was also employed by Russian lawyer, Veselnitskaya (Prevezon Case) through law firm BakerHostetler during the same period that Fusion commissioned the Steele Dossier. Simpson is a former WSJ Reporter. Fusion employees exclusively democratic with political connections to Clinton or Obama administrations. Simpson and Bruce & Nellie Ohr have known each other since at least 2010. Simpson has known Steele since at least 2009. More on Simpson/Fusion here, here and here. Glenn Simpson is on Devin Nunes’ interview list.
Oleg Deripaska – Russian Oligarch. One of seven targeted by recent U.S. sanctions. Long-standing ties to Putin. Paul Manafort lobbied on Deripaska’s behalf. Deripaska may have been involved in Dossier creation – suspicions are rising that Deripaska may have employed Christopher Steele. Both Steele and Adam Waldman lobbied Congress (specifically Senate Select Committee on Intelligence & possibly DOJ’s Bruce Ohr) on Deripaska’s behalf. Oleg Deripaska would be enlisted in 2009 by then-FBI Director Robert Mueller for help in obtaining the release of retired FBI Agent Robert Levinson. Andrew McCabe recruited Deripaska for the attempt. Clinton State Department killed the Levinson deal.
Adam Waldman is a DC lawyer, lobbyist and registered foreign agent for Oleg Deripaska and Sergey Lavrov. Waldman also appears to represent (in some fashion) Dossier author Christopher Steel and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Waldman offered Senator Warner access to Dossier author Christopher Steele (texts here). Linked to Penn Quarter Group and Daniel Jones.
Paul Hauser – British national who reportedly serves as Deripaska’s attorney. Hauser was asked several questions regarding Deripaska’s involvement in the Steele Dossier by Grassley in February 2018. In Hauser’s response, no firm answer was given.
Kathleen Kavalec – Deputy Assistant Secretary – Department of State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Served under Victoria Nuland. Kavalec sent Ohr “information on Simon Kukes, a Russian-born executive who contributed more than $250,000 to Trump-supporting organizations after Trump won the Republican nomination.” In follow-up email, Kavalec references connections between Kukes and Sergei Millian. Kavalec is now President Trump’s nominee to be ambassador to Albania. Kavalec is on Devin Nunes’ interview list.
Nellie Ohr is the wife of former Associate Deputy AG – Bruce Ohr. Conduit for documents passed to FBI through DOJ’s Bruce Ohr. Simpson and Bruce & Nellie Ohr have known each other since at least 2010. The Ohr’s have known Steel since at least 2006. Nellie Ohr was Professor of Russian Studies at Vasser during 90’s. Edward Baumgartner (hired by Fusion to work w/Veselnitskaya & Christopher Steele) studied at Vasser (Russian Studies) this time. Ohr was a conduit between Steele/Fusion and Bruce Ohr/DOJ. Ohr sent emails regarding Natalia Veselnitskaya to Robert Otto – State Department – Bureau of Intelligence and Research specializing in Russia. Nellie Ohr is on Devin Nunes’ interview list.
Sergei Millian – Believed to be Source D (& possibly Source E) in a collection of memos Steele wrote between June and December of 2016. Information from Millian appears to have come second or third-hand. Papadopoulos’ now-wife, Simona Mangiante, said “Millian approached the young Trump foreign policy advisor early in 2016, after he became associated with the campaign, and they struck up a friendship”. This description does not appear to be entirely accurate. On July 22, 2016, Papadopoulos emailed Ivan Timofeev regarding Millian, “if you know any background of him that is noteworthy before I see him, kindly send my way.” Papadopoulos met Millian somewhere between July 23-25, 2016. It appears this was their first meeting. Millian would give an interview to ABC’s Brian Ross in July 2016 (day not disclosed), claiming to have ties to then-Candidate Trump.
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