Washington (CNN) The former British spy who compiled a controversial dossier on President Donald Trump told investigators it was "ridiculous" to think he was biased against Trump because he had "been friendly" with Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter.

Christopher Steele made the comments to investigators as part of the Justice Department inspector general's report on the FBI's Russia probe. While the name Steele refers to in the report is redacted, a source close to Steele's corporate intelligence agency confirmed the family member is Ivanka Trump.

According to the report, Steele said "if anything he was 'favorably disposed' toward the Trump family before he began his research because he had visited a Trump family member at Trump Tower and 'been friendly' with [the family member] for some years."

He told investigators their relationship was "personal" and said he had once given that person a Scottish family tartan.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Ivanka Trump for comment.

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