The trial for Igor Danchenko, the Russian analyst who played a significant role in creating the phony Steele Dossier, has begun.
The FBI met with Danchenko in 2017 trying to verify the claims in the phony Steele Dossier.
A Russian analyst who played a major role in the creation of a flawed dossier about former President Donald Trump fabricated one of his own sources and concealed the identity of another when interviewed by the FBI, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The allegations were aired in opening statements in the jury trial of Igor Danchenko, who is indicted on five counts of making false statements to the FBI, in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
The FBI interviewed Danchenko on multiple occasions in 2017 as it tried to corroborate allegations in what became known as the “Steele dossier.”
The first witness brought by Durham is Brian Auten.
Auten supervised intel analysts who were involved in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
According to Auten, he was told he was a “subject” not only a witness in Durham’s investigation — that means he could face criminal charges.
An FBI counterintelligence official testified Wednesday he was rattled when he learned he might be in the crosshairs of special counsel John Durham’s team as it investigated the bureau’s 2016 probe of links between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia.
Brian Auten, the FBI official who supervised intelligence analysts in the 2016 Crossfire Hurricane investigation, said it was “scary” when he was told he was a “subject,” rather than a mere “witness,” in the case — which could mean potential exposure to criminal charges.
Auten testified in federal court in Alexandria, Va., for a second day in the trial of Igor Danchenko. A private researcher based in Washington, Danchenko was hired by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, to gather information that eventually wound up in the “Steele dossier” of claims about Trump’s ties to Russia. Danchenko was indicted on charges of lying to the FBI during interviews in 2017 about the sources behind his research — which Durham contends affected the FBI’s work in the Russia probe.
A 22-year federal prosecutor pointed out that Durham is treating Auten like a “hostile witness suspected of being a co-conspirator.”
Brian Auten is Durham’s first witness in this case.
Igor Danchenko is the defendant.
Durham is handling Auten himself and treating him the way you would a hostile witness suspected of being a co-conspirator. pic.twitter.com/MZF3FsidAr
— Shipwreckedcrew.substack.com (@shipwreckedcrew) October 12, 2022
Citizen Journal Toria Brooke sat in the room for Day 2 of the Igor Danchenko trial and documented it.
She said “Durham is on fire.”
Durham says Crossfire Hurricane was under close scrutiny by Inspector General’s Office & talks about Auten’s poor conduct in respect to larger picture, including moments characterized in investigation on Carter Page, which Durham says has caused Auten “issues” within the FBI.
Durham says to Auten: “Is it true you were pending possible suspension for conduct?”
Durham asserts that Auten didn’t only become a subject of the investigation because of being involved with Crossfire Hurricane, but because of his conduct in handling the investigation on Carter Page and other matters.
Durham is on fire.
Click here to read the full report or follow her on Twitter.
Auten was accused by whistleblowers of discrediting stories about Hunter Biden during the 2020 election.
The Washington Free Beacon reported:
An intelligence analyst behind the FBI’s botched Trump-Russia collusion probe is now accused of using the bureau’s authority to discredit reports about Hunter Biden’s criminal activity months before the 2020 presidential election.
Meet Brian Auten. The FBI analyst is hardly a household name, but whistleblowers who contacted the office of GOP senator Chuck Grassley say he was behind an August 2020 report that FBI officials used as part of a “scheme…to undermine derogatory information connected to Hunter Biden by falsely suggesting it was disinformation.”
Auten’s report also caused the FBI “to cease” investigative activity into the younger Biden, according to a letter Grassley sent the Justice Department and FBI.
Is Durham going after Auten next?
For the antidote to media bias, check out ProTrumpNews.com!
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