By Newly declassified FBI records reveal that Nellie Ohr—wife of senior DOJ official Bruce Ohr and a former contractor for Fusion GPS—appears to have lied under oath during her 2018 congressional testimony regarding her role in research used to build the Trump-Russia narrative. The documents, released at the request of Senator Chuck Grassley, paint a starkly different picture from the version Ohr gave to Congress.
Ohr told lawmakers she had no knowledge of DOJ investigations into Russia, and that she shared her research only with Fusion GPS, her husband, and ex-British spy Christopher Steele. But a 43-page FBI communication from September 2019 contradicts that claim. According to the bureau, Nellie Ohr handed Bruce Ohr a thumb drive with her Trump-Russia research—material he then delivered to the FBI. Asked by investigators if she contested her husband’s account, she said, “I do not.”
The report further reveals that Nellie Ohr shared research with DOJ prosecutors Ivana Nizich, Lisa Holtyn, and Joseph Wheatley—none of whom were disclosed in her testimony. In one May 2016 email, Ohr flagged the so-called “black ledger” in Ukraine—material that ultimately contributed to the downfall of Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Other communications from Ohr included background on Oleg Deripaska and Rinat Akhmetov—names that factored heavily into the broader Russia-collusion probe.
The Daily Caller writes that Ohr testified to the House Judiciary and Oversight committees that she did not have knowledge of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) related investigation and that she did not share her research with anyone other than Fusion GPS, her husband Bruce and Christopher Steele, the documents read.
Ohr said she understood that knowingly providing false testimony could lead to facing charges of perjury or false statements, the FBI noted.
However, the statements given by Ohr allegedly contradict the recently declassified FBI findings.
“Ohr provided a thumb drive containing all her Fusion GPS research to” her husband, a former senior DOJ official, “so that he might give it to the FBI,” according to the bureau.
Bruce testified that Ohr “gave me that stick to give to the FBI because it related to the FBI’s Russia investigation, and she gave me that stick to give it to the FBI,” according to the FBI’s findings. When pressed on whether she disputed her husband’s testimony, Ohr said “I do not,” the documents read.
Perhaps most explosive, the documents suggest Ohr’s research played a more central role in the infamous Steele dossier—and a second “Alfa Bank” dossier—than she admitted. The FBI’s analysis argues it is “implausible” that Ohr, given Fusion GPS’s small team, was unaware her findings were used to advance allegations about Trump associates like Carter Page and Sergei Millian. Her fingerprints, the report implies, are all over both dossiers.
Senator Grassley slammed the Justice Department and FBI for ignoring what he calls a “slam-dunk” criminal referral. “The DOJ’s inaction on Nellie Ohr’s criminal referral—despite the obviously incriminating evidence provided in the FBI’s own analysis—undermines public trust in the rule of law,” Grassley said. He accused federal agencies of “obstructive conduct” and protecting political allies by declining to prosecute.
DOJ/FBI relentlessly went after Pres Trump+his allies but let Trump’s enemies off the hook 4serious crimes 2day Im releasing FBI evidence NELLIE OHR lied 2Cong abt her involvement in Crossfire Hurricane/Trump-Russia hoax Yet DOJ did NOTHING 2 prosecute Ohr Read on my website
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) May 28, 2025
The documents suggest Nellie and Bruce Ohr may have coordinated their roles in advancing a narrative that weaponized federal law enforcement against a sitting presidential campaign. At the very least, the revelations further erode confidence in the integrity of the Trump-Russia investigation—and raise new questions about accountability at the highest levels of the federal government.
They also should serve as a stark reminder: Democrats believe that there are two sets of rules. One for them and one for everyone else.
Good riddance — but Musk isn’t off the hook for his chaos and corruption.
We must hold him accountable. https://t.co/g6M6USfPxW
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 29, 2025
That’s why Elizabeth Warren can tweet about how she intends to prosecute Elon Musk when Democrats retake power while Ohr will go scot-free.
[Read More: Musk Leaves Government As DeSantis Nails Trump]
