Fusion GPS founder agrees to interview with House intelligence panel in Trump dossier probe

Fusion GPS founder agrees to interview with House intelligence panel in Trump dossier probe
A co-founder of the private investigation firm that commissioned a dossier of information on President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee, at least partially defusing a looming subpoena fight. A lawyer for Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson announced that, after appearing before a closed House Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday, Simpson would submit to a "voluntary interview" with the panel next week. Fusion GPS attorney Josh Levy suggested that the leaders of the House panel's probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, Reps. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), had shown more flexibility than Simpson was offered in the past by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) "We are pleased to announce that the House Intelligence Committee, under the signatures of Mr. Conaway and Mr. Schiff, has agreed to withdraw Mr. Nunes’ subpoena served on Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson will instead sit for a voluntary interview next week, and nothing will be said at that interview — per the agreement of Mr. Conaway and Mr. Schiff — that shall interfere with Mr. Simpson’s ability to assert privileges in this investigation," Levy said in a statement. "We are pleased that reason ruled the day, so that we can move forward.” In recent months, Fusion GPS has clashed with congressional investigators probing the origins of the disputed dossier, a compilation of reports, many of them still unverified, compiled during the 2016 presidential campaign about then-candidate Trump and his alleged ties to Russia. Fusion's lawyers have claimed that the lawmakers' demands intruded on political activities protected by the First Amendment and also invaded Fusion officials' Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Attorneys ultimately crafted arrangements for Simpson — a former Wall Street Journal reporter — to be interviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and provide information to the Senate Intelligence Committee without waiving privileges that could protect the firm and the identity of its clients in other litigation. In the statement Wednesday, Levy said the House intelligence panel was taking a similar stance. “This last condition — honored by the other committees — is important because it allows Fusion GPS to cooperate, while honoring its obligations to clients," Levy said. Last month, Fusion went to court to try to block a House Intelligence Committee subpoena for the firm's bank records. The litigation appeared to be settled through a secret agreement filed with a federal judge, but last Friday Fusion went back to court to claim that the House panel was refusing to abide by the deal. House lawyers filed a response Tuesday, but it has not been made public. It's unclear whether the panel's agreement to interview Simpson next week will forestall or end the legal battle over the bank records. Spokespeople for Nunes and Conaway did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported deal with Simpson. A spokesman for Schiff referred questions to the congressman, who could not immediately be contacted.

November 9, 2017 at 08:45AM