For what it's worth, I read the Fusion GPS testimony in entirety.

[kentuck]

There were a few new names that came out, mostly Russian, but not much that we didn't already know.

It seemed that the attorneys for the Judiciary Committee were more concerned with trying to discredit Glenn Simpson and GPS than they were in getting real answers about the Russian interference in our elections? They wanted to know who was paying him, who they had worked for in the past, who was working with him, did he have invoices, etc., but few questions about Donald Trump and his connections in Russia.

After having read it all, I still do not know how much the FBI used the GPS documentation? But, if it was true, why would it matter? John McCain and Republicans had used Christopher Steele in the past, so they must have considered him credible?

Simpson left several openings to ask about the banks in Cyprus and other countries, that may have been laundering dirty money, but the Judiciary lawyers did not pursue it. They seemed to be following a Republican agenda of some sort?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I read it too, and I got the same impression.

The GOP attorneys didn't seem all that interested in following Trump's money - they were much more interested in finding out who was paying Simpson and Steele. I'm very glad Feinstein released this transcript so we could see what was really going on with this clearly biased line of questioning.

[MontanaMama]

2. I'm on my 2nd read

through the transcript. There's a lot there, IMO. One thing that I wonder is if there is a single person behind the initial GPS investigation into tRump's financial dealings? We know there was a conservative group looking for that info but was there a person...like one of the other Goper candidates or somebody else? What was their motivation and what did they do with the info? That could be important...especially if they knew about any of the Russian organized crime connections and didn't get that info to the FBI. Who was that person?? I'm also curious about the identity of the FBI official that Steele talked to. The name was redacted in the transcript. Did that official sit on any of the info that Steele shared with him/her? Did that official determine that there was nothing there to pursue or was that a decision made by several people? Did a ball get dropped there intentionally or not? There's much more than meets the eye in that part of the transcript I believe.

[kentuck]

5. I remember reading past the redactions...

And one name that was blacked out was a very long name, such as someone with a long title, such as Deputy Assistant Director such and such...or some other title?

[MontanaMama]

7. I wondered the same thing...

that was also my guess. Do you think we'll ever know? I got more out of the transcript the 2nd time through. I can't imagine uncovering this stuff and not losing sleep over it. I posted in another thread that it shouldn't be lost on us that Wilson/Fusion GPS's wheelhouse of expertise is public record information. Most of what they uncovered about Dotard business interests was information that any committed journalist could have discovered if they'd dug a little bit. It illustrates how profoundly the MSM let us down. It was all hiding in plain sight.

[kentuck]

8. First thing I noticed about the testimony was that it was "unclassified"..

Although one of Simpson and GPS lawyers requested, near the end of the questioning, that it be kept confidential.

[MontanaMama]

11. Yes....

very curious. Also noticed that it was congressional staffers doing the interview. I guess that's business as usual? If I were in office, this would be information that I'd want to hear and review personally. Maybe that's not how it is done...

[eleny]

3. Simpson's testimony flips the way the R's tried to characterize him and his motivations

Given how a lot of the facts of his testimony are known around here there had to be a different reason for Feinstein to have released it publicly. She even said that Americans have a right to know. What we have a right to know is how Senators Grassley and Graham were lying to us about Simpson.

Their motivation, no doubt, was to have Americans view Simpson with suspicion so then the administration could discredit the Steele dossier and the Trump misconduct it illustrates. That was all about keeping the base intact.

[kentuck]

4. Are Grassley and Graham covering up and obstructing justice also?

Have they been dragged into the swamp??

[eleny]

6. I believe so about them obstructing

It sure seems like they got dragged. "Why" is the next question. Neither one of them appear to need to remain in the Senate to enjoy the good life. But I can't even speculate about why they went all in for Trump.

Btw, with Iowa's economy on the brink of following the Kansas economy into the toilet it sure seems like a good time for Grassley to exit the stage.

[MontanaMama]

9. Yes...

and Graham just doubled down on his support for the Dotard this week. It is so peculiar. Why? Why do that if you aren't being blackmailed or bribed? At least shut your mouth and say nothing but to publicly sing the pResident's praises is just plain odd. What's the payoff? None of these people do anything without a payoff...I don't necessarily mean financial.

[kentuck]

10. Obsequious little obtuse rats' asses...

[MontanaMama]

12. Perfect!