Glenn R. Simpson, co-founder of the research firm Fusion GPS appeared before a closed House Intelligence Committee. | Pablo Martinez Mosivais/AP Photo House panel releases transcript of interview with Fusion GPS co-founder

The co-founder of the firm behind a controversial Russia-related dossier urged lawmakers last year to look into what he said were ties between President Donald Trump and Russian money laundering, according to a transcript of his interview with House investigators released Thursday.

The House Intelligence Committee released the transcript of congressional investigators' November interview with Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson, whose firm commissioned the dossier that alleged a secret Kremlin effort to influence President Donald Trump.


The disclosure comes less than two weeks after Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) also released a transcript of the Senate judiciary committee's interview with Simpson, who had asked lawmakers to make his remarks public.

The House intelligence panel voted unanimously to release Simpson's testimony. Simpson spent much of the hearing describing his research into Trump's business background and litigation history. He also offered the committee several suggestions for avenues of further inquiry, including into the European travel of Trump associates.

He also elaborated on his relationship with senior Justice Department official Bruce Ohr, whom Simpson met with at a coffee shop after the 2016 election to explain the dossier and ensure that senior law enforcement officials were aware of its findings.

The dossier was compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, who also contacted the FBI about his research in July 2016, according to Simpson's testimony.

Simpson and Steele have become key figures in the multiple investigations into Russian interference in the last presidential election. A former Wall Street Journal reporter turned professional investigator, Simpson and his firm were first hired to dig up dirt on Trump by a conservative media outlet and then by a lawyer who then represented Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) previously released a transcript of the Senate judiciary committee's interview with Simpson.

In a Jan. 2 New York Times op-ed, Simpson and his business partner, Peter Fritsch, complained that Congressional Republicans had "selectively leaked details to media outlets on the far right" and urged the House and Senate to make his testimony public.

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The Republican leading the House panel's Russia probe, Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), told POLITICO Thursday he didn't expect the committee to release other transcripts anytime soon, calling the Fusion matter a "special circumstance" because Simpson himself wanted his testimony to be made public.

"I want witnesses comfortable, as candid with their answers as they want to be," he said.

Conaway said it's possible that portions of transcripts will be released when the committee reveals its final report in order to show readers how lawmakers arrived at their conclusions.

In a statement, Adam Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, complained that Republicans have not followed up on allegations Simpson made about alleged money laundering.

Simpson's testimony "reveal[s] serious allegations that the Trump Organization may have engaged in money laundering with Russian nationals, the same subject which Mr. Bannon described in his interview with the author of Fire and Fury," Schiff said.

“Thus far, Committee Republicans have refused to look into this key area and we hope the release of this transcript will reinforce the importance of these critical questions to our investigation,” Schiff added.

Potential money laundering is believed to be one focal point for special counsel Robert Mueller, who is pursuing a separate investigation into Russian 2016 election interference.