emptywheel

They didn't know they weren't illegal. As I've pointed out if they were payoff for a quid pro quo, they were the absolutely illegal. You don't want FBI to investigate if people are spying for Russia?

Not if it's based on Clinton paid for opposition research from a foreign ex spy. (again, what's the basis to investigate a quid pro quo deal, other than the Steele dossier? Mere speculation doesn't cut it)

You want us to stop chasing spies if our suspicion about it comes from intelligence our closest foreign partners give us? Take a step back and think about what you're really saying.

I have grave reservations of foreign spies influencing FBI investigations into Presidential candidates.

Know where this dossier strategy came from? Paul Manafort. Know what? He is a guy who hid that he was working for Russia. That bug you at all?

Zero proof Manafort worked for Russia (nor does Mueller suggest he did)... His indictment is based on money laundering re his pro-eu/western alignment lobbying of Ukraine.

His indictment is based partly on that, yes. Are you aware that RU has been intervening in Ukr events of late? Ever heard of Oleg Deripaska?

Russia has been intervening in Ukraine since Catherine the Great (btw screw them, leave Ukraine alone)... Yes, he's the Russian oligarch whose agent, Mark Warner was in contact with to secretely get in contact with Steele.