GOP lawmakers nearing deal to get Nellie Ohr to testify

Republican lawmakers are nearing a deal to get Nellie Ohr, the wife of Justice Department employee Bruce Ohr, to interview with House lawmakers as early as Friday, according to congressional sources familiar with the matter. 

Nellie Ohr worked at Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm that hired former British spy Christopher Steele to produce a dossier that alleged ties between Trump and Russia, during the 2016 presidential election. 

Her husband was in contact with Steele, as well as the firm’s Glenn Simpson, during the 2016 presidential election. 

Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) told Fox News on Sunday that Ohr is set to appear for a closed-door interview with the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees.

“She’s planning to come into our committee later this week,” Ratcliffe told the network.  

Republican lawmakers, as well as the president, have pointed to Nellie Ohr’s time working at Fusions GPS as proof of her husband’s corruption. 

“Wow, Nellie Ohr, Bruce Ohr’s wife, is a Russia expert who is fluent in Russian,” Trump tweeted last month. “She worked for Fusion GPS where she was paid a lot. Collusion! Bruce was a boss at the Department of Justice and is, unbelievably, still there!” 

Wow, Nellie Ohr, Bruce Ohr’s wife, is a Russia expert who is fluent in Russian. She worked for Fusion GPS where she was paid a lot. Collusion! Bruce was a boss at the Department of Justice and is, unbelievably, still there!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2018

Bruce Ohr was grilled during closed-door testimony by GOP lawmakers last month over concerns the federal authorities abused surveillance powers during the election. 

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) told Hill.TV’s Buck Sexton in an interview that aired on Monday that he would like to speak with Nellie Ohr and Simpson on the matter. 

“So I think we’ve got to talk to him. We’ve got to talk to Nellie Ohr. Remember, Bruce Ohr, top Justice Department official. His wife is working for the firm hired by the Clintons to put together the dossier,” Jordan said. 

“Bruce Ohr is giving information to the FBI about the dossier. That is not supposed to happen. I mean, that’s just wrong. So we need to talk to his wife. I think we need to talk to a few other people at the FBI as well, and we need to do that as soon as possible.” 

— Julia Manchester and John Solomon