John McCain Foundation executive David Kramer passed the infamous “golden shower” dossier to BuzzFeed in early 2017.
Kramer learned of the files — compiled by former MI6 British intelligence agent Chris Steele — at the Halifax International Security Forum, where he serves on the board of directors. Senator McCain himself then sent Kramer to pursue the information in a London meeting with Steele, in November 2016.
Glenn Simpson of political intelligence firm Fusion GPS handed McCain’s office the documents they had contracted Steele to compile. Fusion GPS was paid by a lawyer representing the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Despite the paper trail, there is dispute over whether Kramer personally handed the dossier to BuzzFeed’s Ken Bensinger, or whether the reporter took pictures while Kramer was unaware.