Fact check: Did the fbi use the Steele Dossier

1. Summary of the results

Yes, the FBI definitively used the Steele Dossier. Multiple sources confirm that the FBI utilized the controversial document in several key ways:

• FISA warrant applications: The FBI used the Steele Dossier to obtain Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants targeting Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser, under FBI Director James Comey's leadership ^{[1] [2]}.
• Intelligence Community Assessment: The Obama Administration incorporated the discredited Steele Dossier into the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which claimed Putin sought to help President-elect Trump's election chances ^[3].
• Crossfire Hurricane investigation: Special Counsel John Durham's investigation revealed that the FBI used "raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence" from the Steele Dossier to launch the 'Crossfire Hurricane' investigation into Trump and Russia ^[4].
• Financial incentives: The FBI offered Christopher Steele up to $1 million to prove his allegations against Donald Trump contained in the dossier, demonstrating the bureau's significant reliance on the document ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the political origins and credibility issues surrounding the Steele Dossier:

• Clinton campaign connection: The Steele Dossier was a "Clinton campaign creation," meaning it originated from political opposition research rather than independent intelligence gathering ^[1].
• Discredited nature: Multiple sources describe the dossier as "discredited" and "uncorroborated," indicating serious questions about its reliability ^{[3] [4]}.
• Legal outcomes: Igor Danchenko, a key source for the Steele dossier, was acquitted of lying to the FBI, which adds complexity to the narrative about the dossier's credibility ^[6].
• Institutional beneficiaries: The Democratic Party establishment, including figures connected to the Clinton campaign, would benefit from downplaying the FBI's reliance on politically-motivated opposition research. Conversely, Republican politicians like Senator Chuck Grassley benefit from highlighting FBI misconduct in using unverified political documents.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but omits critical context that would help readers understand the full scope of the controversy:

• No mention of political origins: The question fails to acknowledge that the Steele Dossier was opposition research funded by the Clinton campaign, not independent intelligence.
• Missing credibility concerns: The question doesn't reference the fact that the dossier has been widely discredited and contained unverified allegations.
• Lack of investigative context: The question omits that Special Counsel Durham concluded the FBI "never should have launched" the full Trump-Russia probe based on this uncorroborated material ^[4].
• No reference to institutional failures: The question doesn't address the broader implications of law enforcement agencies using unverified political opposition research to obtain surveillance warrants and launch investigations.