A release last week of texts showed that Christopher Steele, the former British spy whose memos regarding the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Russia are referred to as the Steele dossier, reached out to Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, through a Russian-linked Washington, D.C., lobbyist named Adam Waldman. Among Waldman’s clients is Oleg Deripaska, a Russian aluminum magnate with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a text dated March 16, 2017, Waldman texted Warner, “Chris Steele asked me to call you.” In 2009, Waldman filed papers with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) registering himself as an agent for Deripaska in order to provide “legal advice on issues involving his U.S. visa as well as commercial transactions” at a retainer of $40,000 a month. In 2010, Waldman additionally registered as an agent for Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, “gathering information and providing advice and analysis as it relates to the U.S. policy towards the visa status of Oleg Deripaska,” including meetings with U.S. policymakers. Based on the information in his FARA filings, Waldman has received at least $2.36 million for his work with Deripaska.: Was Christopher Steele Paid by Russian Oligarch and Putin Ally Oleg Deripaska? (Tablet, 02/13/2018)
Adam Waldman is the founder, chairman, and president of the Endeavor Group, a Washington D.C. consultancy based about two blocks from the White House. In May 2009, Waldman filed paperwork with the DOJ indicating he would be working with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska to provide "legal advice on issues involving his U.S. visa as well as commercial transactions." Waldman disclosed his pay as $40,000 a month.[1] Waldman is also a registered lobbyist for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In early 2017 Waldman represented Julian Assange of Wikileaks pro bono in negotiations with Bruce Ohr and David Laufman of the Justice Department. Assange wanted immunity and safe passage to the US to testify about alleged Russian hacking of the DNC. The immunity deal was ultimately scuttled by James Comey and Sen. Mark Warner.[2] In March 2017 Ranking Democrat Sen. Mark Warner of the Senate Intelligence Committee attempted to contact Christopher Steele through Waldman. Steele's infamous Trump-Russia dossier was then the subject of intensive Congressional inquiry. Steele responded through Waldman that he needed a bipartisan request from both Sen. Warner and Republican Chairman Sen. Richard Burr.[3] : Adam Waldman