The purported Russian efforts were described in a newly released and uncorroborated dossier produced in August. In October, Mother Jones magazine described how a former Western spy " assigned to look into Trump's Russian ties for a private American firm " had presented his findings to the FBI in August. Another Orbis director told the Journal he wouldn't "confirm or deny" that Orbis had produced the report. Shortly after reports were published late Tuesday about the dossier, Trump tweeted: "FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!" The summary of the dossier allegations was appended to a classified assessment of Russia's suspected attempts to meddle in the U.S. presidential election.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 12, 2017 09:06 UTC