With stunning Republican victories across the country Tuesday, including Glenn Youngkin’s electorate-shifting win in Virginia, I wasn’t sure this week could get more based. But never doubt a news cycle that just won’t quit, and our current one just keeps delivering.
News broke just a few minutes ago. Igor Danchenko was arrested. If you’ve followed my reporting, streiff’s reporting, and others here at the site, you’ve heard that name before. Danchenko was the main source for the trash, unverified Steele Dossier that sought to bring down Donald Trump in 2016 – and beyond.
Now, he’s in the hands of the authorities as a target of John Durham’s rejuvenated investigation. The New York Times did a balanced report on the events.
Igor Danschenko arrested! “Authorities Arrest Analyst Who Contributed to Steele Dossier” https://t.co/5EUG2dyAcg
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) November 4, 2021
According to sources familiar with the matter, a federal court on Thursday detained an analyst who had in 2016 collected leads regarding possible Russian connections between Donald J. Trump. This was apparently Democratic-funded opposition research.
Igor Danchenko was arrested as part of the Special Counsel inquiry. John H. Durham was appointed by Trump to examine the Russia investigation and determine if there were any violations.
Mr. Danchenko, was the primary researcher of the so-called Steele dossier, a compendium of rumors and unproven assertions suggesting that Mr. Trump and his 2016 campaign were compromised by and conspiring with Russian intelligence officials in Moscow’s covert operation to help him defeat Hillary Clinton.
While we do not know yet what charges the case is, it could involve anything from FARA violations or lying to the government. In 2017, Danchenko was the FBI’s Dir. James Comey tried to verify the dossier. The infamous “pee tape” allegation originated with Danchenko, for example.
In the aftermath, essentially none of the highly salacious claims by Steele and his source were proven and we’ve also definitively learned that Hillary Clinton played a role in funding the work. Steele, however, did a recent interview in defense of his product. He claimed that further information could be forthcoming.
Out of the Shadows: Christopher Steele defiant on dossier, says Trump still ‘potential’ threat – ABC News – https://t.co/NSkIGdkQZs via @ABC
— GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) October 18, 2021
It’s likely that the entire PR push by Steele with that interview was meant to preempt Danchenko’s arrest and spin what was going to be revealed. If so, he didn’t do a very good job. Durham doesn’t just look for the fringes anymore. Rather, he is going right at the entire conspiracy to take down Donald Trump with false allegations of “Russian collusion.” That’s heartening to see as it was an open question whether current AG Merrick Garland would allow that to happen.
Now, I am confident that this does not mean the end. Michael Sussmann was charged with being behind the fake Alfa Bank story. Now Steele’s primary source is behind bars. Given that, Marc Elias and Steele himself better be lawyering up if they haven’t already.
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