Firm Tied to Trump Dossier Objects to House Panel Subpoenas

A firm that helped produce a salacious opposition-research dossier that said President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Russians is objecting to subpoenas issued by the House Intelligence Committee.

Joshua Levy, a lawyer for the firm, Fusion GPS, said in a letter Monday the subpoenas violate the Constitution’s First Amendment and would “chill” those running from office from conducting opposition research in an election. He also questioned whether Republican panel Chairman Devin Nunes of California was authorized by his committee colleagues to issue them.

"His subpoenas are a clear abuse of power: They are designed to obfuscate the facts and conjure up rank conspiracy theories at the behest of the president and his most obsequious allies in Congress," Levy said in a statement.

The subpoenas seek information on the creation of the dossier, written mostly by former British spy Christopher Steele. The 35-page document included unverified allegations about Trump, including collusion with Russia and compromising information about the president. Trump has denied the allegations.

A Republican congressional official familiar with the matter responded to the letter by saying Fusion GPS is paving the way to plead the Fifth Amendment, as Congress attempts to learn whether the firm is trying to hide something.

Nunes stepped back from running the panel’s probe into Russian meddling in the U.S. election amid controversy, but kept his job running the committee and remains involved in some issues related to the probe.