Former special counsel Robert Mueller said while testifying to Congress on July 24 that he was “not familiar” with Fusion GPS, the intelligence firm behind the infamous dossier filled with unsubstantiated claims about President Donald Trump and used by Trump’s opponents to claim the president was potentially being blackmailed by Russia.
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) asked Mueller about the firm.
“When you talk about the firm that produced the Steele reporting, the name of the firm that produced that was Fusion GPS, is that correct?” Chabot asked.
“I’m not familiar with that,” Mueller replied.
“Let me just help you. It was. It’s not a trick question or anything. It was Fusion GPS,” said Chabot.
Mueller cited the firm on page 103 of Volume II in the report he submitted to the Department of Justice.
“Fusion GPS produced the opposition research document widely known as the Steele dossier,” Chabot continued before asking Mueller if he knew of Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson.
“This is outside my purview,” Mueller responded.
“In stark contrast to the actions of the Trump campaign, we know that the Clinton campaign did pay Fusion GPS to gather dirt on the Trump campaign from persons associated from foreign governments,” Chabot later added. “But your report doesn’t mention a thing about Fusion GPS in it, and you didn’t investigate Fusion GPS’s connections to Russia.”
He said it was neglect and the fact Mueller’s team focused on the Trump Tower meeting over Fusion GPS had led to people viewing the report as biased.
“I tell you, this is still outside my purview,” Mueller responded.
How can Fusion Gps and Steele dossier be outside of Mueller’s “purview” entirely? They provided many of the allegations he spent all that time investigating. He could totally answer those questions that go to his report. #MuellerHearing
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) July 24, 2019
Robert Mueller literally just said he wasn’t familiar with Fusion GPS. My Lord. My Lord.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) July 24, 2019
Critics of Mueller have wondered why the former special counsel’s report didn’t probe the origins of the dossier, which was peddled to law enforcement agencies but has largely remained unsubstantiated.
Some wondered on Wednesday about Mueller’s answer.
“How can Fusion Gps and Steele dossier be outside of Mueller’s ‘purview’ entirely? They provided many of the allegations he spent all that time investigating. He could totally answer those questions that go to his report,” wrote Kimberley Strassel, a political columnist for the Wall Street Journal.
“Robert Mueller literally just said he wasn’t familiar with Fusion GPS. My Lord. My Lord,” added Mollie Hemingway, senior editor of The Federalist.
Why didn’t Robert Mueller & his band of 18 Angry Democrats spend any time investigating Crooked Hillary Clinton, Lyin’ & Leakin’ James Comey, Lisa Page and her Psycho lover, Peter S, Andy McCabe, the beautiful Ohr family, Fusion GPS, and many more, including HIMSELF & Andrew W?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2019
Does anyone honestly believe that after two years and $50 million Robert Mueller does not know anything about fusion GPS given that it was the genesis of the entire investigation?
Has he not opened a paper, even a leftist, one or watched TV in that time?
Tough to believe. https://t.co/x25WxGNY3j
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 24, 2019
President Donald Trump weighed in earlier Wednesday, writing: “Why didn’t Robert Mueller & his band of 18 Angry Democrats spend any time investigating Crooked Hillary Clinton, Lyin’ & Leakin’ James Comey, Lisa Page and her Psycho lover, Peter S, Andy McCabe, the beautiful Ohr family, Fusion GPS, and many more, including HIMSELF & Andrew W?”
His son added about Mueller’s statement, “Does anyone honestly believe that after two years and $50 million Robert Mueller does not know anything about fusion GPS given that it was the genesis of the entire investigation?”
“Has he not opened a paper, even a leftist, one or watched TV in that time? Tough to believe,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote.