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Donald Trump is at the centre of yet another scandal just days before he is due to be inaugurated as President of the United States.

A bombshell dossier, reportedly put together by a former British MI6 spy, claims Russia has 'compromising' evidence of Trump which it gathered in order to be able to blackmail him.

The memo, which is reportedly being investigated by the FBI, was first alluded to by CNN, then published in full by BuzzFeed on Tuesday night.

It claims that Trump arranged for a group of prostitutes to urinate on the Moscow hotel bed where the Obamas had slept.

The billionaire businessman has described the story as "fake news" in a tweet.

Here's a rundown on what we know, and don't know, about the scandal.

What we know

1. President Obama and Trump have been briefed on the dossier

(Image: AFP)

A two-page summary of the allegations were presented to Trump and Obama last week in meetings with the top intelligence chiefs in America.

They include Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers.

This was not to indicate they have verified any of the claims to be true.

But according to the New York Times, intelligence services believed the material so "explosive" it should be brought to the attention of the President and President-elect.

Officials were also concerned that it may leak before Trump knew of its existence, the NYT added.

2. The dossier has been around for some time

Politicians and journalists in Washington have been aware of the dossier since last autumn.

On October 31, 2016, MotherJones published a story entitled 'A Veteran Spy Has Given the FBI Information Alleging a Russian Operation to Cultivate Donald Trump'

(Image: Getty)

Journalist David Corn said he spoke to a "former senior intelligence officer for a Western country" who said he had evidence that "the Russian government has for years tried to co-opt and assist Trump".

3. It is unclear if the FBI is investigating the claims

The FBI has remained tight-lipped and not yet commented on-the-record about whether it is investigating the dossier.

FBI Director James Comey refused to answer Senator Ron Wyden when asked if the agency was investigating links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Last night Mr Wyden said: "The American people have a right to know the answer to this question before January 20."

4. American security agencies ARE investigating Russian hacking of the election

Intelligence agencies believe Vladimir Putin ordered a cyber hacking campaign to help Donald Trump win the US presidential election .

A report produced by the CIA, the FBI and the NSA read: "We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election."

(Image: AFP)

"We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.

"We have high confidence in these judgments."

Russia denies the US government's allegations of hacking during the election campaign.

5. Donald Trump denies the claims

Trump's team have not given a detailed comment, but the President-elect dismissed the story in typically bullish style.

He tweeted: "FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!"

His lawyer and adviser, Michael Cohen, has also denied a specific claim in the memo which claims he secretly met with Russian officials in Prague in August or September last year to talk about Russian hacking of Democrats.

Mr. Cohen tweeted on Tuesday night:

What we don't know

1. Have any of the facts been checked?

None of the claims in the Trump dossier have been established as true at this point.

There are some abstract claims, such as Trump's "unorthodox behaviour in Russia over the years", but others are more concrete such as his lawyer Mr Cohen having visited Prague this year.

These should in theory be possible for intelligence agencies to verify as true or false.

(Image: AFP)

2. How credible is the source?

It has now been reported by multiple US outlets that the source of the Trump dossier is a retired former British spy.

He is believed to have spent almost two decades on Russian intelligence matters and a senior government source told MotherJones "he has been a credible source with a proven record of providing reliable, sensitive, and important information to the US government."

The source, now a private consultant, was initially asked to investigate Trump's links to Russia by a Republican rival.

The client later became a Democrat.

The spy reportedly became so concerned by what he found he decided to pass on his findings to the FBI directly.

3. Did it have any effect on the US election?

President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies last week for alleged Kremlin involvement in hacking that intelligence officials said aimed to help the Republican Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 election

But Trump has poured scorn on intelligence claims of Russian meddling in the US presidential election.

(Image: AFP)

He eventually conceded hacking may have occurred, but maintains that it had no effect on the outcome on the result.

His press secretary Sean Spicer said: "There is zero evidence that they influenced the election."

4. Will there be a full investigation of the claims?

Opposition leaders have jumped on the latest scandal, and demanded a full inquiry.

Eric Swalwell told the New York Times: "The president-elect has spoken a number of times, including after being presented with this evidence, in flattering ways about Russia and its dictator.

"Considering the evidence of Russia hacking our democracy to his benefit, the president-elect would do a service to his presidency and our country by releasing his personal and business income taxes, as well as information on any global financial holdings.”

5. Will it stop Donald Trump becoming President?

It appears very unlikely.

Nothing has been proven at this point and it would require a lengthy process for Congress to impeach Trump.

For more on that process, read here.