This is not identical to what I presume was the original Steele Report when it appeared, perhaps quite briefly, on the internet. This was shortly after McCain had revealed that he was in possession of a report on Trump and his activities involving the Russians. That report, if I recall correctly, had Christopher Steele's name on the cover page and appeared to me to be have been typed by an old fashioned typewriter. (Not unreasonable considering Steele's age, that he was retired after many years as a UK Russian intelligence expert, and that he probably prepared the report in his UK home. This present report seems to have been prepared from what I am presuming was the Original Steele Report and is consistent with it. Some additional detail has been added to this version, including summary bullet points for each section. I believe that what we are seeing here is most likely a Report prepared by Simpson's* Fusion Company, which one can safely presume was based mainly on the Steele Report, after some additions, editing and perhaps some deletions of parts which Steele himself thought least reliable. Recall that Steele was hired by Simpson. [This is my opinion as an informed bystander.]
I call your attention to page 34, under "Summary" Bullet Pt. #4. You will read,
> Anti-Clinton hackers and other operatives paid by BOTH Trump team and Kremlin, but with ultimate loyalty to head of PA, Ivanov and his successor/s. [All forms of emphasis in the preceding quotation are mine; "...head of PA," refers to "Presidents Authority", i.e., those acting directly under authority of Vladimir Putin.]
This has to do with the alleged meeting between Cohen, perhaps including "colleagues", and Russian contacts, in Prague during late summer of 2016. Although Cohen previously denied being in Prague --before he began cooperating with Mueller's team-- he has acknowledged being in Germany** about that time. We have no idea, however, what Cohen has said to Mueller's team regarding this alleged meeting. When the Special Prosecutor's office speaks of Cohen's very helpful cooperation, they might well have this particular incident in mind. If this meeting and it's alleged topics can be confirmed, and in particular if any money changed hands pursuant to this specific meeting and that money can be traced, than this propitious bullet point my bode extremely ill for certain individuals including Donald Trump. "Bode extremely ill" could be a gross understatement!
I originally read about this alleged meeting in what I am presuming is the original Steele Report. And I do believe that I posted, here on ET at the time, that I believed that Cohen may well have acted as a conduit to pay for hacking operations. That would have been done using money that, if exposed, would be deemed campaign money. The source of such money could be laundered money from wealthy contributors or even money indirectly obtained from the Trump organization after suitable laundering -- much in the way the payoffs to McDougal and Daniels were handled. This is naturally speculation on my part. But I believe it to be reasonable speculation. This is the precisely the kind of activity that I am certain is the target of Mueller's investigation. They will be following the money.
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*N.B. Simpson is himself an expert on Russian Intelligence, and a long time friend of Steele's -- having similar interests and expertise. Robert Mueller and Steele collaborated in a previous investigation of criminal activity, international in scope. Working together they exposed corruption at the highest levels of FIFA. Their work resulted in bringing down the former head of FIFA and others, and a FIFA reorganization. If one were to seek out three people to investigate wrong doing and clandestine, illegal activities involving a corrupt Russian Federation, a corrupt American Business man and his corrupt political campaign, one would be hard pressed to find three people more qualified or better suited to working together than Steele, Mueller and Simpson. It's a Dream Team! Woe unto any criminal who is foolish enough to think they can escape with these three guys on their trail.
**Cohen , if I recall correctly, took his son with him, at least as far as Germany. It was a "vacation." If he needed cover, he would not go alone. Too suspicious. What better than to be accompanied by an under age son.
