Durham: The FBI Had Danchenko on Payroll as An Informant During the Russian Collusion Investigation
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Yesterday, a filing by Special Counsel John Durham revealed that Igor Danchenko, who worked as a key contributor to the discredited Steele dossier funded by the Clinton campaign, was later put on the FBI payroll as an informant. The disclosure rocked Washington and raised additional questions of the FBI's eagerness to pursue any allegations against Donald Trump despite being warned that the dossier appeared to be a vehicle for Russian disinformation.
Danchenko is facing with five counts of lying to the bureau during that relationship. His trial is scheduled for next month in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.
The filing states that "In March 2017, the FBI signed the defendant up as a paid confidential human source of the FBI. The FBI terminated its source relationship with the defendant in October 2020."
The news shocked many of us who have closely followed the Russian collusion controversy for years. The FBI showed a zeal to investigate Trump and his campaign that seemed to border on the blind obsessive. It was not simply with the Steele dossier. On the baseless Alfa Bank allegations (also pushed by Clinton campaign through friends at the FBI) the supervisory agent for the FBI's Trump-Russia probe, Joe Pientka, sent a note to FBI special agent Curtis Heide, stating: "People on the 7th floor to include Director are fired up about this server." Pientka then messaged Heide: "Did you guys open a case? Reach out and put tools on?"That description of the apparent eagerness of then-FBI Director James Comey and others only magnifies concern over the bureau's alleged bias or predisposition on the Trump investigation. It was the same eagerness that led the FBI to pursue the Russian investigation for years despite being warned early by American intelligence that the Steele dossier contained not just unsupported allegations but possible Russian disinformation.
Indeed, Danchenko's possible connections to Russian intelligence have been raised as a matter of concern. Indeed, the filing states "During his January 2017 interview with the FBI, the defendant initially denied having any contact with Russian intelligence or security services but later — as noted by the agents, contradicted himself and stated that he had contact with two individuals who he believed to be connected to those services."
What is particularly concerning is that the FBI also had former British spy Christopher Steele, on its payroll. Steele then assembled his dossier under the funding of the Clinton campaign which repeatedly denied such funding to the media. This money was funneled through the law firm of Perkins Coie and the campaign's general counsel, Marc Elias. (The Federal Election Commission (FEC) fined the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign for violating election rules in hiding that funding).
So the FBI cut off Steele as a paid source after he allegedly worked with the media to spread these unproven claims. It then turned around and hired his principle source for the dossier.
The filing also states that Danchenko discussed an interest in obtaining classified information for possible sale to the Russians.
"As has been publicly reported, the defendant was the subject of an FBI counterintelligence investigation from 2009 to 2011. In late 2008, while the defendant was employed by a prominent think tank in Washington, D.C., the defendant engaged two fellow employees about whether one of the employees might be willing or able in the future to provide classified information in exchange for money.
According to one employee ('Employee-1'), the defendant believed that he (Employee-1) might be in a position to enter the incoming Obama administration and have access to classified information. During this exchange, the defendant informed Employee-1 that he had access to people who would be willing to pay money in exchange for classified information. Employee-1 passed this information to a U.S. government contact, and the information was subsequently passed to the FBI.
Based on this information, the FBI initiated a 'preliminary investigation' into the defendant. The FBI converted its investigation into a 'full investigation' after learning that the defendant (1) had been identified as an associate of two FBI counterintelligence subjects and (2) had previous contact with the Russian Embassy and known Russian intelligence officers."
The "prominent think tank" appears to be the Brookings Institution. I have previously written about the prominent role of Brookings in spreading the Russian collusion claims and hiring an array of people who played critical roles in these investigations. That also included former FBI general counsel James Baker. For some, it seemed like not just friends but "friends with benefits." It seems that everyone in this scandal was six degrees from Brookings.
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October 10th is the trial date.
And it won't be in DC
FBI paid suspected Russian asset to be a confidential informant against Trump for three years, prosecutors divulge in blockbuster filing.
And the Democrats and the left expect us to believe this was all Trump.
My Pillow CEO Lindell says FBI surrounded car, seized phone during his return from hunting trip
https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/my-pillow-ceo-lindell-says-fbi-surrounded-car-seized-phone-during-his?utm_source=sf&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twjs
FBI being used against Democrat political opponents continues.
Glad to see they found a liberal POS judge to sign the vague warrant needed to grab his cell.
I am sure any information not pertaining to whatever they are supposedly looking for won't be leaked to the press.
That's what happens when people in the FBI are not held accountable. They just keep getting bolder!
Unbelievable.....................
They wanted to see what's on Lindell's phone.
Why?
There is a reason.
They have investigated Trump non-stop for years and they even had a look at just about every document he had, so it's time to send a warning to anyone who would either work or support him: THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!
I should hope so. Anyone stealing top secret and classified documents should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
She can talk to Hillary Clinton.
Oh, that is right- Comey found the evidence; but didn't act on it.
Also, neither she nor Hillary had the clearance or the ability to declassify documents, Trump did.
Gestapo tactics that have gone unchecked. But those opposing Brandon are the fascists.
All Cabinet members have the authority to classify or declassify documents generated within their departments. That probably doesn't mean much at Transportation as compared to the State Department.
Comey also said that in spite of the Espionage Act being used extensively in WWI,WWII and the Cold war, he would not be able to find a prosecutor willing to bring charges against Clinton.
Not very believable.
Military Intelligence .....the quintessential oxymoron.
It truly is "1984!"
Actually, while SoS, Hillary Clinton DID have the authority to declassify documents.
Oh, and BTFW Ronin, in all of Trump's filings, he hasn't stated that he ACTUALLY declassified anything, so your comment is moot.
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Who is spreading BS?
Or is CNN now lying about what Trump said?
It is almost like TDS is warping your damn minds to the point that you will deny anything and everything.
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Did she ever declassify anything later found in her emails?
Ever once?
So you believe trumpturd?
So you are saying Hillary declassified all of the documents she had in her possession. Pure and utter BS. Not even Obama knew what she had supposedly.
My statement stands. Neither of the two in the post had the security clearance or the ability to declassify documents that Trump had, period.
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More than I believe Brandon, the FBI, and DOJ.
I know Trump is a criminal; just like the Clintons are.
Difference is the government is being weaponized against Trump; while it gave the Clintons a free pass.
How many investigations have their been against Trump; yet no charges filed. No indictments. Just an endless amount of leaks from the FBI and DOJ.
The Clintons may have to sue to reclaim their title as most investigated political family in the US.
Read it again. Why waste time typing things I did not say?
Why would he?
Not very well.
If HRC didn't have top security clearances, why did FOX network lose their minds when she voluntarily asked to have it removed in October of 2018?
Yes, any POTUS with or without security clearance can declassify documents on a whim as long as they follow the procedures.
It is almost like you think that your strawman is relevant. It would behoove you to READ members comments before posting kneejerk bullshit.
Oh, and I have only one mind and it isn't warped Ronin.
I predicated my comment with:
Do you know what a filing is and who READS them Ronin?
Trump can blather all the bullshit he wants on RW radio programs. Hell, I'm pretty sure he could even get away with posting utter LIES on his Truth social media account and claim it's just 'rhetorical' commentary.
But Trump just hasn't seemed to be able to convince his team of lawyers to LIE to a Federal Judge. Hence, not one of the many filings that he has submitted include a claim that he declassified ANY documents. NOT ONE.
Class dismissed.
On willful ignorance.
They sure as fuck did and NOTHING you have posted proves otherwise.
I'd suggest that you review Executive Order 13526. Even Trump admits that he is covered by its mandates.
Here's the bottom line of its content:
You are WRONG.
Finally, what took y'all so long? In other news DeSantis will soon move to change Florida's name to Oceania. 'Go Big Bro!' will replace 'Sunshine State' on all licence plates.
Your usual projection. Deflection. Denial.
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Human wreckage - another casualty.
That is always the case.
“My Pillow CEO Lindell says…”
…and anything to follow is worth less than a $60 discount on a pair of slippers.
Durham Inquiry Appears to Wind Down as Grand Jury Expires
WASHINGTON — When John Durham was assigned by the Justice Department in 2019 to examine the origins of the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, President Donald Trump and his supporters expressed a belief that the inquiry would prove that a “deep state” conspiracy including top Obama-era officials had worked to sabotage him.
Now Durham appears to be winding down his three-year inquiry without anything close to the results Trump was seeking. The grand jury that Durham has recently used to hear evidence has expired, and while he could convene another, there are currently no plans to do so, three people familiar with the matter said.
Durham and his team are working to complete a final report by the end of the year, they said, and one of the lead prosecutors on his team is leaving for a job with a prominent law firm.
Not according to this article
He's so impotent!
All these years and NOTHING!
Why not read the article?
Why not read the filing?
What is Durham's purpose for the filing Vic?
Did you?
How about this:
The filing states that "In March 2017, the FBI signed the defendant up as a paid confidential human source of the FBI.
Danchenko is facing with five counts of lying to the bureau during that relationship.
The purpose is fairly obvious. BTW the Washington Post was right yesterday. Durham has completely ruined the FBI's reputation if nothing else.
Again, your go to MO of replying to questions with a question.
Then you shouldn't have a problem STATING what it is Vic. I'll wait.
Well gee Vic, that would fuck up Durham's case against Danchenko since he relies heavily on FBI testimony and documents. You'd KNOW that if you had read the fucking filing.
Usual projection. Deflection. Denial.
Such a complete waste of time.
Unbelievable
"So the FBI cut off Steele as a paid source after he allegedly worked with the media to spread these unproven claims. It then turned around and hired his principle source for the dossier."
Why not?
Instead of paying Steele to bring them his lies; they went directly to the source.
Much easier for the FBI. Not going to say cheaper when the government is involved. Chances are they paid him more than Steele.
Wow, Turley's article is a gaslighting piece of crap.
He intentionally avoids mentioning the PURPOSE of the filing.
Here's a hint for those who want to actually READ the fucking filing.
Millian.