(FiveNation.com)- Prosecutors claim Igor Danchenko lied to investigators about how he received material that ultimately appeared in the notorious and discredited Steele dossier used against former President Donald Trump.
Durham requested that U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga extend the deadline to June 13 from May 13. Most of the secret materials have been sent to Danchenko’s attorneys, but Durham stated current international events continue to cause delays in the processing and production of classified evidence.
Durham wrote that some of the officials preparing and reviewing the documents at the FBI and intelligence agencies continue to be heavily engaged in matters related to overseas activities. His team continues to press the relevant authorities to produce documents in classified discovery as quickly as possible.
During the purported Trump–Russia connection investigation, Danchenko, a Russian analyst, was suspected of lying to FBI agents about the sources of information he supplied to former UK intelligence agent Christopher Steele.
Opposition research company Fusion GPS employed Steele to examine 2016 allegations against Trump and his campaign. Perkins Coie, a Democratic Party-aligned legal firm, hired Fusion GPS.
The Steele dossier, compiled by a former British agent, claimed Trump made contact with Russian intelligence officers to defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016. Many of Steele’s accusations were untrue, prompting congressional, criminal, and inspector general investigations.
Trump said the charges are part of a witch hunt to undermine his administration and reelection campaign.
Durham claims Danchenko lied to the FBI about being Charles Dolan’s source for the Steele dossier in 2017. In November 2022, he’ll stand trial.
Danchenko’s lawyer, Mark Schamel, denied he pled guilty in November. Schamel claimed Danchenko’s analysis was “above reproach.”
Schamel said that those with an agenda have worked to disclose Danchenko’s identify and destroy his image while harming U.S. National Security, and it won’t be tolerated.
According to the charges, the dossier was used to get orders to spy on former Trump campaign staffer Carter Page.
The FBI’s investigation conclusions and sworn submissions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court throughout the relevant period were influenced by Steele’s dossier and other material given by Danchenko.
