Posted on 10/29/2017 4:16:30 PM PDT by Eddie01
A news website funded by hedge-fund billionaire Paul Singer says it contracted the firm to research 'multiple candidates'
Matthew Continetti, the editor of the neoconservative website Washington Free Beacon, wrote in a letter posted online just after 7 p.m. on Friday that the Free Beacon hired Fusion GPS during the Republican primary to do research on Republican candidates. That research kicked off what became known as the “dossier” used to smear Donald Trump.
The Washington Free Beacon is funded by New York hedge fund manager Paul Singer, who backed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in the Republican primary, and was vigorously opposed to Donald Trump.
Continetti is the 36-year-old editor-in-chief. He started the website with Michael Goldfarb after marrying the daughter of Never-Trumper Bill Kristol. Goldfarb previously worked for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
The letter signed by Continetti starts off by saying that the Free Beacon has regularly retained "third-party firms" to conduct research since its founding in 2012 — a declaration that most people working in journalism would find odd, even bewildering, given that research is at the core of what journalists do and so is not normally contracted out, and given the cost of such outsourcing. Fusion GPS was reportedly paid $9 million for the opposition research on Trump that it produced in the general election for the DNC and the Clinton campaign.
"Since its launch in February of 2012, the Washington Free Beacon has retained third-party firms to conduct research on many individuals and institutions of interest to us and our readers. In that capacity, during the 2016 election cycle we retained Fusion GPS to provide research on multiple candidates in the Republican presidential primary, just as we retained other firms to assist in our research into Hillary Clinton. All of the work that Fusion GPS provided to the Free Beacon was based on public sources, and none of the work product that the Free Beacon received appears in the Steele dossier. The Free Beacon had no knowledge of or connection to the Steele dossier, did not pay for the dossier, and never had contact with, knowledge of, or provided payment for any work performed by Christopher Steele. Nor did we have any knowledge of the relationship between Fusion GPS and the Democratic National Committee, Perkins Coie, and the Clinton campaign."
Continetti goes on to write that representatives of the Free Beacon contacted the House Intelligence Committee on Friday and offered to answer questions about Fusion GPS, a controversial firm founded by three former employees of the Wall Street Journal.
"They get paid to destroy people," Venezuelan human rights activist Thor Halvorssen said on "Fox & Friends" this week, referring to his personal experience with the firm when he tried to expose corruption in U.S. companies operating in Venezuela.
Continetti ended the letter by defending the hiring of Fusion GPS.
"But to be clear: We stand by our reporting, and we do not apologize for our methods," he wrote. "We consider it our duty to report verifiable information, not falsehoods or slander, and we believe that commitment has been well demonstrated by the quality of the journalism that we produce. The First Amendment guarantees our right to engage in news-gathering as we see fit, and we intend to continue doing just that as we have since the day we launched this project."
Roger Stone: Marco Rubio Donor Paid Fusion GPS in Primary
Longtime GOP operative and friend of the president says Paul Singer was the 'money man' responsible for the dossier's origins.
Legendary political operative Roger Stone reported on Wednesday that it was Singer who had paid for the dossier, though he did not mention the Washington Free Beacon or Continetti.
Singer and his company, Elliott Management Corp., contributed more than $5 million to the presidential campaign of Marco Rubio in 2016. But when contacted by LifeZette on Friday morning, Rubio's Washington office said the senator and his staff do not know who had paid for Fusion GPS' work during the primary campaign.
In the general election, Fusion GPS subcontracted with a firm run by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, to research Trump's connections to Russia. This research resulted in the "Steele dossier" — a collection of memos that contain many unverified claims. Steele did not travel to Russia himself, but obtained the information third- or fourth-hand, working from an office in the United Kingdom.
Nope not him ... I just can’t believe you are getting on your high horse about what the guy said and also call him out on his religious background.
This is why many of us don’t give a damn about the so-called “leading conservatives” and their propaganda outlets such as National Review and WFB.
Ummm...
Is he wearing lipstick in that photo?
You posted the pic of Kristol’s ugly daughter and husband with the
big hooker lips and nose.
If you did not like my comment, either don’t post the pic
or ask the moderator to remove my comment.
I filed this complaint to the DOJIG. make a copy and file it with the DOJ.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B98gBgsg4VB3YjB3c3Z2dFFqMEE
I am sure these 30 somethings are marvelous, however why partake in these careers and become part of the beltways incestuous cabal? Where are the parents to say no, choose Accounting/ CPA, Engineering, Medicine and or all it's sub/Careers, anything but politics.
Shine the light brother. Shine the light.
Although I did speculate about what he did with his big lips.
I stand behind the comment of the pic that they are both ugly,
at least in my eyes. That’s my opinion and I am sticking with it.
Even Rinos will fall on their swords for the Clintons.
John McCain...Sounds familiar as a guy with a huge hard on for President Trump.
Little Marco.
All these people are dirty and scared to death the Trump is going to expose them !
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
I UNliked WFBeacon on FB.
Trump has everything he needs to knock out the communists.
He moves in a calculated fashion. I trust him with this information.
In short, the Free Beacon buys their dirt. How charming... more money than brains and zero ethics...
In short, the Free Beacon buys their dirt. How charming... more money than brains and zero ethics... Calling Continette an 'editor in chief is an insult to every editor on the planet...
Yes. This is a diversion to allow the MSM to cover the story - while blaming Republicans - AND get Republicans fighting among themselves.
From a dem standpoint - it's a TWO-FER.
And the Obama Birth Cert issue was started by Hillary in the primary.
"Good journalism" doesn't square with the hiring of a firm like Fusion GPS.
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