Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) unilaterally released Fusion GPS’s full testimony from an August 2017 interview Tuesday.
Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley’s spox responded immediately Tuesday to Feinstein’s unilateral move: “It’s totally confounding that Senator Feinstein would unilaterally release a transcript of a witness interview in the middle of an ongoing investigation..Her decision was made without consulting Chairman Grassley,” reported Fox News’ Chad Pergram
On Wednesday Dianne Feinstein claimed she was ‘pressured’ to release the transcript then immediately backtracked!
Feinstein’s other excuse? She claims she’s suffering from a ‘bad cold’ which may have ‘slowed down her mental facilities’.
Now it has been confirmed that Dianne Feinstein released the transcript at the request of Fusion GPS’s lawyers!
Via Kerry Picket of The Daily Caller:
California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein told The Daily Caller that Fusion GPS lawyers asked her to release company co-founder Glenn Simpson’s testimony transcript.
[…]
“We were written to by the lawyers of the company asking that it be released, and the reason, of course, is because it has been used by rumor and innuendo and falsity so much that the time came for people to see exactly what was said,” Feinstein said.
President Trump went scorched earth on Dianne Feinstein late Thursday night, saying she ‘possibly illegally’ unilaterally released the Fusion GPS transcript.
Trump tweeted Thursday night, “Democrat Dianne Feinstein should never have released secret committee testimony to the public without authorization. Very disrespectful to committee members and possibly illegal. She blamed her poor decision on the fact she had a cold – a first!”
Democrat Dianne Feinstein should never have released secret committee testimony to the public without authorization. Very disrespectful to committee members and possibly illegal. She blamed her poor decision on the fact she had a cold – a first!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
President Trump called the Democrat Senator “Sneaky Dianne Feinstein” Wednesday morning on Twitter, “The fact that Sneaky Dianne Feinstein, who has on numerous occasions stated that collusion between Trump/Russia has not been found, would release testimony in such an underhanded and possibly illegal way, totally without authorization, is a disgrace. Must have tough Primary!”
Interestingly, Dianne Feinstein told Buzzfeed reporter, Emma Loop she never even said she was “pressured” to release the Fusion GPS transcript even though there’s recordings of her saying she was pressured:
Just asked Feinstein about her comment yesterday about being “pressured” to release the Simpson transcript.
Just asked Feinstein about her comment yesterday about being “pressured” to release the Simpson transcript.
“I made no statement to that effect,” she said.
Me: but there are recordings of you saying you felt pressured
“I don’t believe there are. I don’t believe I said that.”
— Emma Loop (@LoopEmma) January 11, 2018
Feinstein should be investigated for leaking this transcript to the public.
