Natasha Bertrand
@NatashaBertrand
Steele had no obligation not to speak to reporters, per a source, because his research never belonged to the FBI. By late Oct., a relationship with the FBI had not been formalized even though the possibility of a commercial contract had been discussed. www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/a-closer-look-at-the-nunes-memo/552233/
A source familiar with the episode, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, told me that Steele’s research belonged to his clients, Fusion GPS and the Democratic National Committee. Steele gave the information to the FBI out of a sense of duty, the source said, but a relationship with the FBI had not been formalized even though the possibility of a commercial contract had been discussed to continue the research into Trump’s Russia ties. Such a contract never materialized, which meant that Steele was under no obligation to avoid reporters. The FBI acknowledged that, the source said.
John Sipher
@john_sipher
The memo seems to imply that there all sorts of rules around being a source. Sources are good and bad, some lie, all have bias. More importantly, Steele was not a "source". We don't run Brits. We had no institutional control over him. He volunteered info as a former partner.