Clinton Campaign, DNC Picked up Tab on Republican-Commissioned Dossier

We've long known an anti-Trump Republican first commissioned Fusion GPS to dig up opposition research on Donald Trump and that he or she reportedly lost interest once it became clear Trump was going to be the party nominee. We've also known for some time that Democrats supporting Hillary Clinton picked up the cost for Fusion GPS to continue its work.

Today, The Washington Post reports those Democrats were the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee:

Fusion GPS’s work researching Trump began during the Republican presidential primaries when the GOP donor paid for the firm to investigate the real estate tycoon’s background.

Fusion GPS did not start off looking at Trump’s Russia ties, but quickly realized that those relationships were extensive, according to the people familiar with the matter.

When the Republican donor stopped paying for the research, [Attorney Marc E.] Elias, acting on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the DNC, agreed to pay for the work to continue.

Fusion GPS hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele whose compiled memos became the infamous Steele dossier:

Some of Steele’s allegations began circulating in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2016 as the FBI launched its counterintelligence investigation into possible connections between Trump associates and the Kremlin. Around that time, Steele shared some of his findings with the FBI.

After the election, the FBI agreed to pay Steele to continue gathering intelligence about Trump and Russia, but the bureau pulled out of the arrangement after Steele was publicly identified in news reports.

(...)

Officials have said the FBI has confirmed some of the information in the dossier. Other details, including the most sensational accusations, have yet to be verified and may never be.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) has subpoenaed Fusion GPS' bank records in order to uncover who financed the dossier. Fusion GPS is fighting the demand. A judge's ruling is expected shortly.