Schiff: ‘Important’ Question Isn’t Who Funded Dossier, But How Much Is True

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, speaks to reporters about the actions of Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as the panel continues to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the possible link to President Donald Trump's campaign, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 24, 2017.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, speaks to reporters about the actions of Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as the panel continues to investigate Russian interference ... Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, speaks to reporters about the actions of Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as the panel continues to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the possible link to President Donald Trump's campaign, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 24, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, on Sunday said the “most important question” about the so-called Trump dossier isn’t who paid for it, but how many of the allegations it contains are true.

“I certainly would have liked to know who paid for it earlier, but nonetheless, that’s just one factor to be considered,” Schiff said on ABC’s “This Week.”

He said “the ultimate question” about the dossier containing allegations of President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia is, “How much of the work is accurate?”

Schiff said his “colleagues” seem less interested in the allegations the dossier contains.

“How much of it is true? And my colleagues don’t seem particularly interested in that question,” Schiff said. “But that is really the most important question for the American people.”

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC), who is also a member of the House Intelligence Committee, on “Fox News Sunday” said he was “interested in who paid for the dossier.”

The Washington Post reported last week that the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign partly funded research that resulted in the controversial document.

The editors of the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news site, on Friday night said they first retained research firm Fusion GPS to research Donald Trump during the Republican primary, research that Clinton’s campaign and the DNC later stepped in to continue funding.

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  1. Dossier, schmossier. It’s become a huge red herring. The ultimate question is to what extent the stuff that’s going to be revealed by investigations aimed at meeting standards of evidence for an American court will resonate with the public as true, and tend to confirm what they’ve suspected about Trump and company. That’s why the e-mail server hurt Clinton—it confirmed a suspicion she was a corner-cutter. If there’s solid evidence from granite-jawed investigator Mueller that Trump’s the goddamn crook every sensible person sees him as, then he’s in trouble, base or no base.

    At least I hope so. :grimacing:

  2. Aaaaand we have our tweet storm:

    Never seen such Republican ANGER & UNITY as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton made Fake Dossier (now $12,000,000?),....

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2017

    ...the Uranium to Russia deal, the 33,000 plus deleted Emails, the Comey fix and so much more. Instead they look at phony Trump/Russia,....

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2017

    ..."collusion," which doesn't exist. The Dems are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, but the R's...

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2017

    ...are now fighting back like never before. There is so much GUILT by Democrats/Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. DO SOMETHING!

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2017

    I especially like that “DO SOMETHING!” Sounds a bit esperate-day. Like a damsel in distress tied to the railroad tracks by Snidely Whiplash.

  3. It’s also important that the WH and Congressional Republicans not be able to tie the dossier to the Mueller investigation. They are trying now to say, "Mueller saw the tainted-by-who-paid-for-it dossier and based his investigation and conclusions on it, so they are invalid. Not true. He’s conducted a completely independent investigation - he and his team interviewing witnesses, reviewing original documents. This fact cannot get lost in the muck.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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