A former MI6 officer widely believed to have assembled the unsubstantiated dossier on Donald Trump was reportedly set to be paid for his work by the FBI, according to a Washington Post report citing inside sources.
A former MI6 officer widely believed to have assembled the unsubstantiated dossier on Donald Trump was reportedly set to be paid for his work by the FBI, according to a Washington Post report citing inside sources.
The Post goes on to say that “while Trump has derided the dossier as ‘fake news’ compiled by his political opponents, the FBI’s arrangement with [Christopher] Steele shows that bureau considered him credible and found his information, while unproved, to be worthy of further investigation."
However, the deal reportedly fell through after the findings were posted online, stirring intense controversy.
Steele is even said to have gone into hiding with claims that he was “in fear of his life,” notes the BBC.
The 35-page dossier contained allegations about the Trump campaign’s ties with Russia and salacious stories about his private life.
Trump has since spoken out about the findings, calling the report “false and fictitious.”
The Post says the FBI was aware of Steele’s alleged intelligence gathering on behalf of Hillary Clinton supporters which was occurring around the same time the bureau was looking into Russia.
Steele had previously worked with the FBI on corruption issues surrounding the soccer organization FIFA, notes the Telegraph.
