Politics America: Trump’s Special Counsel Fails in Steele Dossier Case

Russian analyst Igor Danchenko, one of the key figures in the 2016 production of a controversial dossier on former US President Donald Trump’s Russia affair, has been acquitted of perjury charges. Danchenko, who lives in the US, is believed to be a key source for the dossier, commissioned by Democrats during the 2016 presidential campaign and compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele. The so-called Steele dossier contained many unverified claims and became public before it was completed. John Durham, the special investigator appointed by Trump to the case, had accused Danchenko of repeatedly lying to the FBI during the investigation into the Steele dossier.

A US court acquitted Danchenko on Tuesday of making false statements in the politically charged trial, as US media unanimously reported from the courtroom in Alexandria. The ruling is seen as a setback for Trump and his special counsel. The first case also ended in the acquittal of the accused. Durham is expected to submit a final report to the Justice Department later this year.