Christopher Steele reportedly had a 'friendly' relationship with Ivanka Trump for years
Dossier author Christopher Steele reportedly met Ivanka Trump at a dinner in 2007, and the two maintained a friendly relationship for years afterward.
The Department of Justice's inspector general report released Monday describes how Steele, former intelligence officer and author of the dossier written in 2016 that describes alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia, denied having a bias against then-candidate Donald Trump.
In fact, the report reads, "He stated that if anything he was 'favorably disposed' toward the Trump family before he began his research because he had visited a Trump family member at Trump Tower and 'been friendly' with [the family member] for some years." It goes on to say, "He described their relationship as 'personal' and said that he once gifted a family tartan from Scotland to the family member."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The report doesn't mention who this Trump family member is, but according to ABC News, it's Ivanka Trump. Steele and Trump met at a dinner in 2007, when he was working for MI6, and "they began corresponding about the possibility of future work together," ABC reports, adding that they "stayed in touch via emails over the next several years." In one 2008 email, they talk about meeting for dinner near Trump Tower, the report says.
This relationship between Trump and Steele, who President Trump has blasted as a "lowlife" and "dopey," had not previously been known. Ivanka Trump hasn't yet commented on the report.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The great global copper swindleUnder the Radar Rising prices and easy access makes the metal a ‘more attractive target for criminals looking for a quick profit’
-
‘They’re nervous about playing the game’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Will Netanyahu get a pardon?Today's Big Question Opponents say yes, if he steps down
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
-
GOP wins tight House race in red Tennessee districtSpeed Read Republicans maintained their advantage in the House
-
Trump targets ‘garbage’ Somalis ahead of ICE raidsSpeed Read The Department of Homeland Security will launch an immigration operation targeting Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area
-
Hegseth blames ‘fog of war’ for potential war crimespeed read ‘I did not personally see survivors,’ Hegseth said at a Cabinet meeting
-
Canada joins EU’s $170B SAFE defense fundspeed read This makes it the first non-European Union country in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative
-
Appeals court disqualifies US Attorney Alina HabbaSpeed Read The former personal attorney to President Donald Trump has been unlawfully serving as US attorney for New Jersey, the ruling says
