Posted on 10/24/2017 9:17:49 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
The opposition research firm behind the Trump dossier says that a House Intelligence Committee subpoena seeking its bank records has a good chance of “ruining” its business, as well as of putting its clients’ safety at risk.
The firm, Fusion GPS, also argued in a late-night court filing that the subpoena, issued earlier this month for TD Bank, will have a “chilling” effect on the First Amendment and privacy rights of it and its clients.
“In short, compliance with this subpoena will not only harm Plaintiff’s business, it has a high likelihood of ruining it,” reads one of the arguments presented by Fusion GPS in court papers filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.
Fusion’s argument is part of a mad dash effort to prevent the House committee from finding out who hired the firm to investigate Trump. That question has remained a closely-held secret ever since the dossier, written by former British spy Christopher Steele, was published by BuzzFeed in January.
Fusion has refused to identify its clients in response to numerous lawsuits filed against the firm as well as against BuzzFeed and Steele. Fusion founder Glenn Simpson also refused to identify clients during an Aug. 22 interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee.
According to various news reports, Fusion was first hired in September 2015 by a Republican “Never Trumper” to investigate the real estate mogul. By the following June, a Hillary Clinton ally had hired Fusion to continue the Trump project. That’s when Steele, a former MI6 agent, was hired to investigate Trump’s activities in Russia.
Fusion’s fight to stave off the release of bank records began last week, after two of Fusion’s partners, Thomas Catan and Peter Fritsch, invoked their Fifth Amendment privileges during depositions with the House committee.
On Friday, lawyers for Fusion and the House committee held a phone conference with U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan in which the opposition research firm argued that TD Bank should be blocked from complying from the subpoena, which was issued on Oct. 4.
Fusion said last week that it was not aware of the subpoena until Oct. 13.
TD Bank informed Fusion that it had compiled the firm’s bank records and was ready to comply with the subpoena by the Oct. 23 deadline. But Fusion was able to convince Chutkan to delay the subpoena by two days in order to hear arguments in favor of blocking the subpoena. Chutkan, an Obama appointee, is expected to make a decision in the case by Wednesday.
In its request for an injunction, Fusion says that if the subpoena is approved, its bank records will reveal thousands of transactions as well as the identities of 25 of its clients and 30 of its contractors. Doing so will not only hurt Fusion’s business but it will put its clients not related to the dossier project at risk of hacking attempts and physical threats, the firm says.
“The breadth of the subpoena will cause harm to the businesses of Fusion’s clients and contractors and also subject those clients and contractors to harassment, fear of cyberattacks and hacking attempts, and, in some instances, danger to their physical safety,” Fusion’s argument reads.
To support its claim, Fusion included anonymous declarations from nine of its clients, none of who were involved in the dossier, asserting that they did not want their identities revealed by the release of the bank records.
“It is possible that revelation of my association with Fusion GPS could lead to my safety being placed in jeopardy,” declared one Fusion client, who also expressed concern that their company “will become the subject of media attention and politicized scrutiny.”
It certainly WILL...HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Kinda like Paul Manafort and General Flynn?
When has that excuse ever stop an investigation?
They should ignore the subpoena completely, just like Brian Pagliano did. A repub congressman went to the Trump DOJ and asked them to prosecute Pagliano.
DOJ said they would do NOTHING.
Problem solved.
[ Fusion GPS Says Subpoena For Its Bank Records Will ‘Ruin’ Its Business, Endanger Its Clients ]
Gee, that’s a shame. I think Al Capone had a similar claim.
Isn’t the answer, then, to simply identify the people involved in the dossier?
Just tell us Mc Cain or Bush.
John McCain hand delivered this fabricated report to James Comey knowing it was a scam. It is imperative to find out who paid for this professionally produced smear. This may even have been the GOPE and if that is the case , we are looking at their total destruction.
I guess that tell us how the judge is going to rule.
In a law suit, when a party will be ruined by complying with a subpoena, it caves.
Good. And what the investigation doesn’t, Sessions’ expanded asset forfeiture laws will, cause this was used in the commission of a crime.
Have a nice day.
Makes you wonder where exactly this will lead onto. I would be curious if you find some rich Saudi donor behind bank-rolling this. Usually all the stuff that McCain does...has some connection back to the Saudis. If it did lead back to the Saudis...how would Trump react?
My money is on McCain or Hillary/Bill.
Maybe it was paid for by The Clinton Foundation?
The Booshes will be shocked to find out sister Hillary or John McCain have done anything wrong, of course.
Fusion GPS Says Subpoena For Its Bank Records Will ‘Ruin’ Its Business
It’s business is what? Smear merchant for the Dept State?
OMG arresting me & making me pay back the money after I robbed the bank will ruin me. You can’t do that.
We want to see how much the DNC and the Hillary campaign paid these liars.
The Clintons and the Obamas placed all their operatives long, long ago in lots and lots and lots of places.
As we all know.
Now they sound like Sean Penn.
“Residents of this shelter receive medical treatment all the time,” Chutkan said. “Why is this any different? Why is the fact that this is an abortion any different than if she was getting her tonsils out?”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.