Dems, Republicans diverge over firm behind Trump dossier: report

House Democrats refused to sign on to court papers filed Monday night by Republican lawmakers that seek to find out who paid Fusion GPS, the private research firm behind the controversial dossier alleging ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russia, Reuters reported.

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee, one of the panels investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, subpoenaed an unnamed bank earlier this month for Fusion’s account records — a move geared toward uncovering who paid for the firm to commission the dossier.

But the firm sued the bank in federal court and requested that the court block the subpoena. According to Reuters, Fusion promises its clients that it will not release their identities.

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On Monday, lawyers for the House who claim they are working for the Intelligence Committee asked the court to deny Fusion’s request, arguing that it “would directly impede an ongoing congressional investigation of the highest national importance.” That filing was made without support from Democrats.

That Democrats declined to support the push to uncover the client who paid for Fusion to commission the dossier, which contains salacious and unverified allegations against Trump, shows a widening schism with Intelligence Committee Republicans over the direction of the investigation into Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 election, according to Reuters.

Democrats and some Republicans have sought to gear the investigation toward Russia’s influence in the election, as well as potential ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

But other House Republicans, including Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), have tried to steer the probe more toward Fusion’s clientele and motives behind the dossier.

According to Reuters, the Monday court filing also states that Nunes did not recuse himself from the Russia investigation, despite saying earlier this year that he would step aside from the probe.