Donald Trump’s spy chief nominee is fierce critic of British former agent's role in Russia probe

Ben Riley-Smith
John Ratcliffe, the Texan congressman proposed for US director of national intelligence role, has raised questions about Christopher Steele's dossier on Trump-Russia links - Getty Images North America
John Ratcliffe, the Texan congressman proposed for US director of national intelligence role, has raised questions about Christopher Steele's dossier on Trump-Russia links - Getty Images North America

Donald Trump’s new nominee for the top US intelligence role has repeatedly called into question the motives and actions of a former British spy who helped trigger the Russian links investigation.

John Ratcliffe, the Texan congressman proposed for US director of national intelligence, criticised former MI6 agent Christopher Steele’s collection of memos about the Trump campaign's ties to the Kremlin.

Mr Ratcliffe has called the memos a “false dossier”, played up the fact that the research was in part funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign and questioned how the information was handled by US officials.

Last week Mr Ratcliffe used his grilling of Robert Mueller, the special counsel who investigated Trump-Russia links, to suggest Mr Steele’s dossier may actually have been based on Russian disinformation.

''I want to find out if Russia interfered with our election by providing false information through sources to Christopher Steele about a Trump conspiracy that you determined didn't exist,” Mr Ratcliffe told Mr Mueller.

The comments form part of a wider narrative pushed by Mr Trump and often echoed by Mr Ratcliffe that the probe into Russian election meddling and the actions of Trump campaign figures was improperly launched.

Christopher Steele, the former MI6 agent, produced a dossier of claims about the Trump campaign's links to Russia which helped start the investigation into the issue - Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Christopher Steele, the former MI6 agent, produced a dossier of claims about the Trump campaign's links to Russia which helped start the investigation into the issue Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Mr Ratcliffe has questioned whether crimes were committed by the US law enforcement figures who launched the probe before the 2016 election.

He has floated the idea that there may have been a “secret society” of FBI and Justice Department officials who were “working against” Mr Trump shortly after his election victory.

Mr Ratcliffe has also suggested that Mr Mueller overstepped his remit by scrutinising whether Mr Trump obstructed justice in his actions regarding the Russia investigation.

Should Mr Ratcliffe win Senate approval to take up the position, which oversees the work of America’s intelligence agencies, it could increase tension between UK and US spying agencies.

Mr Trump has publicly called for his attorney general to look into whether the UK and other Western allies played a role in kick-starting the Russia investigation.

Senior US and UK officials have played down any tensions in the past, insisting that the historic intelligence sharing relationship between both countries remains strong.