{"id":1446918,"date":"2022-04-20T07:00:15","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T11:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1446918"},"modified":"2022-04-20T07:00:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T11:00:41","slug":"clinton-campaign-fusion-gps-provided-legal-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clinton-campaign-fusion-gps-provided-legal-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinton Campaign: Fusion GPS Provided Legal Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fclinton-campaign-fusion-gps-provided-legal-advice%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1446918&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h3 class=\"subtitle\">And why Clinton will lose the &#8220;privilege&#8221; fight.<\/h3>\n<div dir=\"auto\" class=\"body markup\">\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3be6f0c8-6e9b-4fdc-af85-cb252914923d_789x460.jpeg\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"789\" height=\"460\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>The battle over documents and e-mails in the Michael Sussmann case just got hotter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Back in August 2017, Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/s3.documentcloud.org\/documents\/4345537\/Fusion-GPS-Simpson-Transcript.pdf\" rel=\"\">explaining<\/a> how his firm was retained to gather \u201clots of facts about Donald Trump.\u201d He admitted that Fusion GPS met with reporters leading up to the 2016 election to spread opposition research against then-candidate Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The context of Perkins Coie\u2019s retention of Fusion GPS was further explained in a book co-authored by Simpson and Fusion GPS co-founder Peter Fritsch. They documented an April 20, 2016 meeting with Mark Elias (Perkins Coie partner and counsel for the DNC\/Clinton Campaign), where Elias requested their services for opposition research:<\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcbc87fd-67d6-47f3-9d26-2d64200968fc_602x311.png\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"602\" height=\"311\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Now the stories have changed.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>Fusion GPS is no longer an opposition research firm, and they weren\u2019t hired to dig-up dirt against Trump. Instead, they would have you believe, after the phony dossier and the Alfa Bank hoax, that Fusion GPS was retained to provide legal advice to the Hillary Clinton Campaign. Remarkable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On April 6, Durham filed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/569269484\/64-Gov-Motion-to-Compel\" rel=\"\">this motion to compel<\/a> in the Michael Sussmann case, requesting the court require the production of \u201cemails and attachments between and among\u201d Perkins Coie, Rodney Joffe, and Fusion GPS. These emails and documents, according to Durham, \u201cappear or involve or relate to\u201d Fusion GPS\u2019s provision of research and media services to Hillary for America, the DNC, and Perkins Coie. (Some documents had been produced pursuant to grand jury subpoenas dating back to the 2021.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8aeb9b00-aa93-4ed4-b56b-0bf38917f482_725x228.png\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"725\" height=\"228\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Today\u2019s Filings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Faced with this pressure, today there was a flurry of filings from interested entities in the Sussmann case, seeking to intervene to petition the court to keep these emails and documents secret. The DNC, Rodney Joffe, Perkins Coie, and Hillary for America all filed motions to intervene and memorandums in opposition to Durham\u2019s motion to compel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"subscription-widget-wrap\">\n<div class=\"subscription-widget show-subscribe\">\n<div class=\"preamble\">\n<p>The Reactionary is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Notably, we saw arguments to the court that Fusion GPS wasn\u2019t retained for opposition research. Hillary for America, for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/570663982\/86-Hillary-for-America-Opposition-to-Motion-to-Compel-With-Exhibits\" rel=\"\">asserted<\/a> \u201cattorney-client privilege and work product protection over communications and work product of its attorneys (at Perkins Coie) and their consultant (Fusion GPS).\u201d In support of that motion, Hillary for America included declarations from John Podesta, Robby Mook, and their attorney, Marc Elias. Declarations which contradict the public record.<\/p>\n<p>To prove my point, John Podesta declared that to his knowledge, Perkins Coie has \u201cconsistently maintained\u201d confidentiality, despite the fact that Perkins Coie (Sussmann in particular) assisted in distributing to the press the materials and allegations prepared by Fusion GPS and other researchers. Compare Podesta\u2019s declaration to Sussmann\u2019s December 2017 testimony (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/15poundstogo\" rel=\"\">h\/t FoiaFan<\/a>):<\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb76cfcab-4caa-45ef-8eb4-bd8beb66c682_613x152.png\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"613\" height=\"152\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d0e1e91-869c-4daf-992f-1bb5af2568c9_816x784.png\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"816\" height=\"784\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Not to be outdone, Robby Mook (Hillary\u2019s campaign manager) told the court that he believed that contractors for Perkins Coie \u2013 which would include Fusion GPS \u2013 were providing \u201clegal services and legal advice\u201d to the Clinton campaign. Unfortunately for Hillary for America, Mook\u2019s belief is insufficient for the purposes of privilege.<\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99d43af1-3fa1-47c8-abe5-4e6711b27fc1_1510x587.png\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"1456\" height=\"566\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Clinton lawyer Mark Elias also submitted a declaration, stating the role of Fusion GPS was to \u201cprovide consulting services in support of the legal advice\u201d Perkins Coie and Elias were providing their clients. This contradicts the Elias\u2019s own statements cited above. <\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure><a class=\"image-link image2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.substack.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0479b2cb-7447-4b01-97ba-194d93d1a6d3_868x243.png\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img src width=\"868\" height=\"243\" data-attrs=\"{\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fusion GPS, in its filing today, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Techno_Fog\/status\/1516465459041865732\/photo\/1\" rel=\"\">made similar arguments<\/a>: \u201cElias retained Fusion to expressly support his legal advice . . . and the retention specifically contemplated the need for such advice for potential and ongoing litigation.\u201d This is the pattern of Fusion GPS, which <a href=\"https:\/\/technofog.substack.com\/p\/special-counsel-durham-found-the?s=w\" rel=\"\">previously refused to produce<\/a> correspondence in the Alfa Bank (Fridman, et al.) case. <\/p>\n<p>Having already produced thousands of pages of materials requested by grand jury subpoenas, they\u2019re all desperate to keep these remaining records secret. We can\u2019t help but think the information is damaging. How damaging might it be? Damaging enough for this fight. <\/p>\n<p>We also can\u2019t help but believe Hillary for America, Fusion GPS, Sussmann, and the rest of them will lose this fight to keep these records secret. Here\u2019s a quick rundown of why (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/569269484\/64-Gov-Motion-to-Compel\" rel=\"\">Durham\u2019s motion to compel<\/a> goes into more detail on the legal arguments, if you\u2019re curious) Durham will likely get these documents and e-mails:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p>T<strong>he actual work was political, not legal.<\/strong> Previous statements confirm that Fusion GPS was retained for political research, and not for \u201clegal advice\u201d or for the purposes of litigation. Fusion was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/509300239\/Fridman-et-al-v-Fusion-GPS-and-Simpson-Motion-to-Compel\" rel=\"\">hired to perform<\/a> \u201cpolitical work\u201d \u2013 specifically, \u201cdeep research on Trump.\u201d As Simpson and Fritsch wrote, Elias \u201cloved\u201d the Trump\/Russia narrative and \u201cFusion\u2019s research team would soon be hired and given wide latitude to go where the story led it.\u201d As Durham observed, Fusion GPS wasn\u2019t providing legal advice when it met with Rodney Joffe or promoted the Alfa Bank allegations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Fusion GPS shared its findings with the U.S. government and the press (related to #1).<\/strong> I won\u2019t provide all contacts, but will summarize some briefly. Christopher Steele met with the FBI in July 2016, and continued his contacts with them until he was terminated as a source for his contacts with David Corn. The FBI would later use Bruce Ohr as a conduit to Steele. Fusion GPS would meet with reporters leading up to the 2016 election and pressure newsrooms and reporters to publish the Alfa Bank hoax. Likewise, Sussmann would provide the Fusion GPS opposition research to reporters. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>The \u201cprivilege\u201d was always a pretext.<\/strong> In Fusion GPS\u2019s initial meeting with Marc Elias, he said \u201cFusion would only be reporting to him\u201d for \u201clegal reasons: if Fusion\u2019s communications were with a lawyer, they would be considered privileged and kept confidential.\u201d Elias then structured the retention agreement with Fusion GPS to be for \u201clegal advice\u201d \u2013 despite their conversation that Fusion GPS would be conducting opposition research. Or are we to believe that the mighty Marc Elias needs legal advice from Glenn Simpson and Christopher Steele?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Finally, keep in mind there are some important dates coming up in the Sussmann case:<\/p>\n<p><strong>April 20, 2022:<\/strong> There will be a hearing on Sussmann\u2019s motion in limine to preclude evidence and on his motion to exclude the government\u2019s proposed expert witness testimony.<\/p>\n<p><strong>April 27, 2022:<\/strong> The court will hear the motion to compel. We expect the Court to require production &#8211; date uncertain. <\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>And why Clinton will lose the &#8220;privilege&#8221; fight.The battle over documents and e-mails in the Michael Sussmann case just got hotter.Back in August 2017, Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson testified<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":498,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1446918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1446918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1446918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1446918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1446918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}