August 21, 2018
The proof that those at the top level of intelligence were actively working to prevent a Trump presidency, and then destroy his presidency, keeps on coming. Recently released information, including handwritten notes from Bruce Ohr, the number four man in the justice department during the presidential election through December 2017, provide further confirmation of the attempts made by those in powerful government positions to desperately find evidence of a nefarious relationship between Trump and Russia.
Bruce Ohr, is the former Associate Deputy Attorney General, married to a former employee of Fusion GPS, the firm that compiled the infamous unverified dossier financed by the DNC and the Clinton campaign. Ohr served under Sally Yates, who was Deputy Attorney General, and then acting Attorney General, until she was dismissed in late January 2017 for infamously taking a political stand by refusing to defend Trump’s travel ban. Yates was also instrumental in bringing forth the charges against Mike Flynn, Trump’s former Director of National security. Additionally, Yates signed off on at least one of the FISA applications to surveil Trump aide Carter Page. One look at her Twitter timeline, confirms that she is solidly in the “Resistance” camp.
Glenn Simpson. A co-founder of the opposition research firm that compiled the dossier has admitted in congressional testimony that Ohr’s wife, Nellie Ohr, was hired by Fusion during the 2016 election to help investigate Trump. Incredibly Ohr concealed the nature of his wife’s employment from the justice department, and last December was demoted from his top position.
In spite of the fact that Ohr’s position in the justice department did not involve working on the Russia investigation, he met repeatedly with Christopher Steele, the author of the dossier. Between January 2016 through the end of 2017 Ohr had approximately 60 contacts with Steele. Between 11/16 through 5/17 Ohr was interviewed by the FBI 12 times about his interactions with Steele.
In November 2016 the FBI terminated their relationship with Steele because he violated their agreement when he disclosed information to the media. In October 2016 Steele relayed information to Mother Jones reporter David Corn, revealing allegations from the dossier. Corn’s article came out on October 31, 2016, alleging ties between Trump and Russia. This article helped to create a narrative just days before the election of Trump and Russian collusion.
In notes written by Ohr, obtained by John Solomon of the Hill, Ohr wrote, “Glenn asked Chris to speak to the Mother Jones reporter. It was Glenn’s Hail Mary attempt.” Apparently, it was one last desperate attempt by Simpson to prevent Trump from becoming our next president. Both Simpson and Steele, the two men the FBI turned to, to provide them with information in their investigation of the Trump campaign, were anything but neutral in their evidence gathering. Steele openly desired that his dossier would alter the outcome of the election. In one of the FBI notes from an interview with Ohr, Ohr disclosed that Steele was “desperate to sink the Trump candidacy.”
Even after the FBI severed ties with Steele, as a result of his breach, and the resultant damage to Steele’s credibility, Ohr and Steele remained in contact through the end of 2017. FBI documentation on the firing of Steele stated the “handling agent advised that CHS (confidential human source -AKA Christopher Steele) was not to operate to obtain any intelligence whatsoever on behalf of the FBI.” In spite of this directive the FBI continued to receive information from Ohr, which he obtained from Steele.
Peter Strzok, the FBI agent in charge of the Russia investigation testified before congress that the FBI did indeed receive documents from Ohr that originated from Steele. Strzok is infamous for his vitriolic display of hatred for Trump in his exposed text messages with his colleague and paramour Lisa Page. Strzok was recently fired from the FBI.
It remains to be seen who else, if anyone in the justice department was aware of Ohr’s “extracurricular activities”. Sally Yates, whom Ohr served under, is an outspoken critic of Trump. Was she aware that Ohr was communicating with the firm attempting to tie Trump to Russian collusion, and back channeling information from a fired informant onto the FBI? Rod Rosenstein, the current Deputy attorney general, who was Yates successor, and Ohr’s boss prior to his demotion, has claimed that he was unaware of Ohr’s interactions with Steele and his involvement with the Russia investigation.
Another text message sent by Steele to Ohr, in March 2017, two days before James Comey, the former head of the FBI, informed the House Intelligence committee that the FBI had opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump’s campaign, was obtained by Sarah Carter, from a government source. In the text Steele wrote, “Hi, Just wondering if you had any news?Obviously, we’re a bit apprehensive given scheduled appearances at Congress on Monday. Hoping that important firewalls will hold. Many thanks.” Ohr responded, “ Sorry, no news. I believe my earlier information is still accurate. I will let you know immediately if there is any change.”
Firewalls? Earlier information? It is unclear what these texts mean. Some have compared the “firewall” comment to the infamous text by Strzok to Lisa Page in which he mentioned an “insurance policy”. It could also have meant that Steele was hoping that his back channel communications with the FBI would not be uncovered. A few months later, shortly after Comey was fired, Ohr wrote “Call with Chris. He also noted that Steele is “very concerned about Comey’s firing afraid they will be exposed”.
It appears that Steele’s attempts to take down Trump did not end with the FBI counterintelligence investigation. Texts sent between Steele and Ohr, obtained from the justice department by John Solomon indicates that after the formation of Robert Mueller’s special counsel, Steele solicited Ohr’s help to pass information along to the Mueller investigation.
A text message form Steele in June 2017 to Ohr stated “We are frustrated with how long this this reengagement with the bureau and Robert Mueller is taking. Anything you can do to accelerate the process would be very much appreciated.” It is, as yet, unknown if any information from Steele was ever passed along to the Special Counsel.
Incredibly, as reported by Solomon, Ohr’s notes from a meeting with Steele, state that “much” of the so-called evidence in the dossier tying Trump to Russia did not come from sources inside Russia, but from a former Russian intelligence officer living in the United States. Steele has also admitted that during his work on the dossier he never went to Russia. Steele has not been to Russia in almost two decades. Yet, this is the “evidence” used to surveil the former Trump aide Carter Page, and help launch an investigation into a presidential campaign and consequently disrupt a country and presidency.
These latest exposed texts, emails and notes by the former Associate Deputy Attorney General add to the pile of evidence that indicates that there were indeed forces within the top level of the government that were actively working to damage Trump to subvert an election.
By the latest count, 25 top FBI and DOJ officials connected to the Trump-Russia investigations have been either fired, demoted or resigned due to improper behavior, none of which favored Trump. Trump’s constant refrain of calling the Russia investigation a witch hunt is looking less and less like hyperbole.
