WASHINGTON _ A private firm that produced an opposition-research dossier that claimed President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russia asked a federal court to prevent the House Intelligence Committee from obtaining its financial records.
Fusion GPS's lawyer, Joshua Levy, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Washington on Friday to stop its bank from complying with a congressional subpoena seeking two years of bank records. The firm said the subpoena from committee Chairman Devin Nunes violates its First Amendment rights and various laws.
In response, the committee said in court papers that it has the constitutional right to subpoena that information and that the committee will file more documents to support its argument.
The legal battle is the latest clash between Fusion and House Intelligence Committee Republicans. Two executives of the firm refused to answer questions last week in a private meeting with the committee, invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The firm argued that demanding the executives' testimony violated the First Amendment and would "chill" those running for office from conducting opposition research in an election.
The 35-page dossier, written mostly by former British spy Christopher Steele, includes unverified allegations about Trump, including contacts between Russian officials and his staff during the presidential campaign, and Moscow's possession of compromising information about the president. Trump has denied the allegations.
"As part of its inquiry into the Russian active measures targeting the 2016 U.S. election, the committee seeks, among other things, to understand all facets of the dossier which include: Who paid for it? Who received it?" the House committee said in court papers filed Saturday.
Levy argued the subpoena would "reveal the identities of Fusion's clients, on whose behalf Fusion conducted confidential public research." Levy asked the court to block the bank from complying with the subpoena.
"Disclosure of the bank records would violate the First Amendment rights of Fusion and its clients to engage in free political speech and free association," Levy wrote.
Levy has publicly questioned whether Nunes, a California Republican, was authorized by his committee colleagues to issue subpoenas.
Nunes stepped back from running the panel's investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election, but continues as committee chairman and remains involved in some issues related to the probe. Several Republicans on the panel say Nunes has their support, but Democrats have questioned his continued involvement.
Nunes previously sought to learn whether U.S. intelligence agencies directly supported or helped pay for the dossier on Trump, or relied on its information in their own Russia probes. If the agencies relied on some of its information, the chairman has said he wants to know what steps were taken to verify its accuracy.
The committee said in its court filing that it needs the bank records to answer those questions and others. The committee said the subpoena doesn't violate the First Amendment rights of Fusion GPS or laws cited by the company.
The firm has cooperated with other investigations. Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee for 10 hours in August, said Levy. Levy said Fusion is willing to work with "serious investigators" who strike a balance between Congress' right to information "and our client's privileges and legal obligations."
