Lawyer for Clinton campaign and DNC gave FBI documents for Russia probe, sources say

Michael Sussmann, a senior aide working with the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign, is assisting Carter Page, sources close to a congressional investigation said.
(Perkins Coie)

A FBI's general counsel for the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign is in the process of assisting Carter Page, sources close to a congressional investigation told Fox News , citing new testimony.

The FBI official who was contacted, James Baker, revealed the exchange to the congress of investigators during a closed-door deposition Wednesday. He said Perkins co-lawyer Michael Sussmann has made contact with him and provides information on Russian hacking. The sources said Baker described the contact as unusual and the "only time it happened."

Perkins Coie was a key player in the controversial anti-Trump dossier, which has long been proven to fuel the FBI's investigation. The DNC and Clinton campaign had hired opposition research firm GPS Fusion in April 2016, through Perkins Coie, to dig into Trump's background. Fusion, in turn, paid British ex-spy Christopher Steele to compile the file, from which were shared with the FBI in the summer of 2016.

Sussmann's contact with Baker suggests another connection between the early stages of the FBI's Russia and the DNC and Clinton campaign. Sussmann's bio on the Perkins Coie website describes him as a senior member of the Department of Justice.[Sussmann] is one of the most sophisticated, high-stakes matters today, such as his representation of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in their responses to Russian hacking in the 2016 presidential election. "

Asked about Baker's statements, however, a Perkins spokesperson spokesperson said Sussmann's contact was not connected to the firm's DNC or Clinton campaign.

The spokesperson said in a statement:

"Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Michael Sussmann served as a cybercrime prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the Republican Department of Justice and Democratic Administration. As a result, Sussmann is being retained by customers with complex cybersecurity matters.

"When Sussmann puts with Mr. Baker on behalf of a client, it was not connected to the firm's representation of the Hillary Clinton Campaign, the DNC or any Political Law Group client."

Separately, two Republican lawmakers said after Baker's deposition that he gave "explosive" closed-door testimony detailing how the Russia was handled in an "abnormal fashion" reflecting "political bias."

Reps. Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan would not provide many specifics on the private transcribed interview, citing a confidentiality agreement with Baker and his attorneys. However, they indicated that they are more likely than others to be in control, and the monitoring warrant application for Carter Page in October 2016.

BAKER PROVIDED 'EXPLOSIVE' TESTIMONY ON 'ABNORMAL' HANDLING OF RUSSIA PROBE, LAWMAKERS SAY

Jordan also discussed the revelation of the FBI's additional source. "During the time that the … DOJ and FBI have been putting together the FISA (monitoring warrant), there is another source of information directly to the FBI, which we found to be pretty explosive, "Jordan said.

Baker is at the heart of monitoring abuse allegations, and his deposition lays the groundwork for next week's planned closed-door interview with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Baker, as the FBI's top lawyer, helped secure the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Prior to the deposition, Republican investigators said they believed it could explain why it was not feasible to use it. FISA, FISA, and FISA Page in June 2017.

Fox News asked Baker after the deposition on the handling of the Trump file, what he told Rosenstein about potential exculpatory evidence and whether it is the subject of an FBI leak investigation. Baker told Fox News he could not answer the questions. Baker, who had a close working relationship with FBI Director James Comey, left the office earlier this year.

COMEY SUBPOENA CONSIDERED BY REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL

Rosenstein is expected on Capitol Hill on Oct. 11 for what Republican House sources have described as a closed-door interview. It comes after the New York Times reported last month that it was discussed secretly recording the chair and removing it from office using the 25th Amendment. Rosenstein and the DOJ disputed that report, calling it "inaccurate." Rosenstein's planned in-person meeting with Trump, meanwhile,

A Justice Department official said Rosenstein agreed to meet the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., But offered no details on the format of that meeting.