Dianne Feinstein releases transcript of founder of firm that compiled the Trump dossier


On Tuesday Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the transcript of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson's testimony, despite Republican objections. Fusion GPS is famously behind a controversial dossier that alleges Russia possesses compromising information about President Trump. It was compiled by British spy Christopher Steele, who Simpson hired.
The committee's chairman, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), had previously told The New York Times that Simpson was "uncooperative" during his interview. Republicans have additionally raised concerns that Steele "lied to federal authorities about his contacts with journalists," the Times notes.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Simpson was "very cooperative" in his interview before that committee. Overall, Simpson has participated in an estimated 20 hours of interrogation before three separate congressional committees, The New York Times reports.
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Simpson had called for his Senate Judiciary Committee transcript, which runs 312 pages long, to be released. Feinstein's decision to do so "marks the most serious break yet in the cooperative relationship she has had" with Grassley, The Washington Post writes. Read the full transcript here.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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