Fact check: What was the origin of the Steele report and its funding?

1. Summary of the results

The origin of the Steele report and its funding is a complex issue with multiple parties involved. According to ^[1], the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) paid for opposition research on Donald Trump, which helped fund the Steele dossier through the law firm Perkins Coie and Fusion GPS. However, ^[3] reveals that the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative website, originally hired Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research on multiple Republican candidates, including Donald Trump, before the Clinton campaign and the DNC got involved. It is also noted by ^[3] that the Free Beacon denied paying for the Steele dossier or having any contact with Christopher Steele. Furthermore, ^[2] suggests that Nellie Ohr, a contractor for Fusion GPS, may have played a role in drafting aspects of the Steele dossier and conspired with her husband, Bruce Ohr, to ensure high-level FBI officials received her work product.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the exact nature of the relationship between the Washington Free Beacon and Fusion GPS, as well as the extent to which the Free Beacon's initial funding contributed to the eventual creation of the Steele dossier, as mentioned by ^[3]. Additionally, ^[2] highlights the potential involvement of Nellie Ohr in the drafting of the Steele dossier, which raises questions about the credibility and reliability of the dossier's contents. Another alternative viewpoint is the potential motivations behind the Clinton campaign and the DNC's decision to fund opposition research on Donald Trump, as noted by ^[1]. The beneficiaries of this funding arrangement include the Clinton campaign and the DNC, who gained access to potentially damaging information about their opponent, as well as Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele, who received payment for their services.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading in its implication that the Steele report was solely the product of the Clinton campaign and the DNC's funding, as ^[3] suggests that the Washington Free Beacon was initially involved in funding opposition research on Donald Trump. This omission could be seen as a bias towards portraying the Clinton campaign and the DNC as the primary drivers behind the Steele dossier, as noted by ^[1]. Furthermore, ^[2]'s revelation about Nellie Ohr's potential involvement in the drafting of the Steele dossier raises questions about the credibility of the dossier and the motivations of those involved in its creation. The beneficiaries of this potential misinformation include the Clinton campaign and the DNC, who may be able to downplay their role in funding the Steele dossier, as well as Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele, who may be able to avoid scrutiny over their methods and motivations ^{[1] [2] [3]}.