A newly declassified FBI memo has revealed that Nellie Ohr, a contractor for Fusion GPS, likely provided false testimony to Congress regarding her involvement in the 2016 Trump-Russia investigation, a report noted on Saturday.
The memo, released by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman and Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), indicates that Ohr’s statements under oath contradicted evidence uncovered by the FBI.
Nellie Ohr worked as a researcher and analyst for Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm hired by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Fusion GPS subsequently employed former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who compiled the Steele Dossier alleging connections between Donald Trump and Russia, The New York Post reported.
In her October 2018 testimony before Congress, Ohr claimed she had no knowledge of the Justice Department’s investigations into Trump-Russia ties. However, the FBI’s analysis found that she shared research materials from her work at Fusion GPS with her husband, Bruce Ohr, who was then a senior official at the Justice Department. These materials were subsequently passed on to the FBI.
The memo also highlighted that Nellie Ohr’s emails acknowledged the existence of the investigation, contradicting her sworn testimony. Furthermore, the FBI noted textual similarities between her research and official investigative documents, suggesting a closer involvement than she had admitted.
Additionally, the Ohrs met with Christopher Steele on July 30, 2016, to discuss allegations concerning Trump campaign aide Carter Page. These discussions were later relayed to the FBI.
The FBI’s assessment concluded that there was “probable cause to believe that Bruce and Nellie did communicate with each other about their respective activity in furtherance of the Russia-collusion investigations and/or narrative.” This finding was based on the lack of distinction between their professional and personal communications regarding the matter.
Despite a 2019 criminal referral from then-North Carolina Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, alleging that Nellie Ohr knowingly provided false testimony to Congress, the Justice Department did not pursue charges against her. In contrast, the department secured the conviction of Trump ally Roger Stone for lying to congressional investigators during the same period.
“By lying to Congress, Nellie Ohr showed contempt for congressional oversight and the American people. What’s more, the FBI and DOJ’s failure to hold Ohr accountable for appearing to commit multiple felonies and its obstructive conduct against agents that sought additional information reveals the agencies’ deeply disturbing political bias. Ohr never suffered consequences for advancing the phony Trump-Russia narrative and attempting to cover up her involvement in the hoax. Yet time and again, the American justice system has been weaponized against President Trump and his associates with reckless abandon,” Grassley said in a press release.
“The DOJ’s inaction on Nellie Ohr’s criminal referral – despite the obviously incriminating evidence provided in the FBI’s own analysis – undermines public trust in the rule of law. I applaud Director Patel, Attorney General Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Blanche for cooperating with my request to declassify this information, which is in the public’s interest, and chart a new course for transparency and accountability at the FBI and DOJ,” he added.
Bruce Ohr faced disciplinary action following an inspector general’s referral and resigned from the Justice Department in October 2020.
The declassified memo sheds light on the extent of the Clinton campaign’s involvement in the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation. It portrays Fusion GPS as a central hub coordinating efforts to disseminate allegations of Russian collusion to the FBI.
The memo also talked about a second dossier, authored by long-time Clinton associate Cody Shearer, which was passed to the FBI through Steele via a State Department official. This “FSB Memo” was deemed “obviously fictitious” by the FBI, citing its wild claims and lack of credible sourcing.
The FBI’s assessment suggests that parts of the Steele dossier may have been corroborated by Shearer’s research, raising concerns about the coordination between Fusion GPS and Steele.