The text messages from Senator Mark Warner & Russian lobbyist Adam Waldman contain multiple references to materials other than matters related to Christopher Steele. Below is a summary I compiled, sorting the texts for easy understanding. Please understand there are multiple telephone calls dispersed throughout the text messages, the latter info discussed being unknown, and there are some other texts of no importance that I omitted.
1) Julian Assange:
Feb 15, 2017 Waldman explains to Warner that he informed everyone in USG he would endhis pro bono role with Assange if safe passage to the US to discuss past and present leaks could not be achieved. (Note: This is the first text included in the document.)
Feb 15, 2017 Waldman informs Warner that he has been attempting to arrange for Assange to come to the US. He is worried that Assange could "do something catastrophic to the Dems, Obama, CIA and national security." Needs to get him to the US to "ameliorate the damage." Has been working with someone in DOJ. (Note: On Match 7, 2016 Assange releases 'Vault 7 Part 1 on the CIA hacking capability.)
Mar 07, 2017 -- Waldman texts Warner the WikiLeaks internet site where Vault 7 is posted.
Mar 07, 2017 -- Warner wants to connect to WikiLeaks site, thinks there is more to come.
Apr 10, 2017 Waldman states has convinced Assange to make concessions & is discussing this with DOJ.
2) Oleg Deripaska:
Feb 15, 2017 Waldman has had many dialogs with DOJ about Deripaska.
Mar 25, 2017 Waldman tells Warner that Deripaska will be in London M-Th and Warner can meet him too.
Mar 31, 2017 Waldman says Deripaska doesn't trust the USG.
Apr 10, 2017 Waldman says Deripaska would be willing to testify before Congress.
May 12, 2017 Waldman says he & Deripaska have received letter from counsel of House Intel Comm. Assumes Warner would rather we deal with him than the House Comm..
May 15, 2017 Waldman wants to know if Warner wants to discuss Deripaska or should he respond to House Comm. (Note: Last text message by date included in document.)
3) Paul Manafort:
Mar 23, 2017 Waldman wants to discuss Paul Manafort.
Apr 06, 2017 Waldman wants to know when Manafort is testifying. Could have bearing on other issues.
Apr 07, 2017 Warner says haven't decided yet, needs to review all intel.
Apr 10, 2017 Waldman says Deripaska wants to know 'state of play' on Manafort.
4) Christopher Steele:
Mar 17, 2017 Waldman says Steele asked him to call Warner. (No reason given)
Mar 23, 2017 Waldman tells Warner he needs to coordinate date of his trip (to London) with Waldman's scheduler.
Mar 26, 2017 Warner says things picking up, need to set date.
Mar 27, 2017 Waldman says awaiting call from your scheduler, and Steele would like the letter we discussed.
Mar 29, 2017 Warner wants brief call with Steele before letter so can frame the letter.
Mar 29, 2017 Waldman says Steele wants the letter first.
Mar 30, 2017 Waldman says Steele is very concerned about the leaks yesterday.
Mar 30, 2017 Warner wants a preliminary call with Steele & Waldman, no one else, to discuss scope before the letter, no leaks.
Mar 30, 2017 Waldman says yesterday's press may have run Steele off; he is talking with lawyers now.
Mar 30, 2017 Warner wants London meeting to be private, but don't want to send letter if no agreement, "would rather not have paper trail."
Mar 30, 2017 Waldman says makes sense. Steele seems spooked at moment.
Apr 05, 2017 Waldman says Steele has cold feet from leaks, wants bipartisan letter with written questions.
Apr 10, 2017 Warner asks if any news?
Apr 10, 2017 Waldman says Steele wants the bipartisan letter from the Committee.
Apr 25, 2017 Waldman (very long text; summary) Steele wants to be helpful but still insists on letter first which Waldman has tried to defuse. Steele will talk with Dan Jones (??) who has been talking with Warner.
Apr 25, 2017 Warner thinks it is weird about wanting a letter first and what would it accomplish.
Apr 25, 2017 Waldman relates a letter means he is being formally requested by a bipartisan investigative body to assist in their investigation.
Apr 25, 2017 Warner says makes no sense that Steele won't do a call first.
Apr 25, 2017 Waldman says he can't convince Steele to do a call first. Steele says Dan Jones is coming to see Warner.
5) Wall Street Journal:
Apr 06, 2017 Waldman relates that WSJ people he knows called, having heard that Senate Intel Comm & Steele are speaking thru an intermediary and asked if the intermediary is Waldman.
Apr 06, 2017 Warner doesn't know how they would get that.
Apr 06, 2017 Waldman said didn't know anything about it. (Lied.)
My takeaways:
1) There was ongoing dialog concerning Assange between the DOJ & an intermediary about leaked CIA materials.
2) Steele initiated the dialogue with Warner by requesting Waldman to contact Warner, but Waldman was already communicating with Warner on other matters (Assange).
3) Warner was certainly extremely paranoid about writing a letter...leaving a paper trail. He knew he was acting under the table regarding his Committee function. Also notice the texting dates: Feb 15 thru May 15, 2017. Warner did not inform the Senate Intel Committee about this adventure until September.
4) Why Steele refused speaking on the phone before receiving a formal letter was likely to CYA since he knew the dossier was under investigation.
5) I wonder who tipped off the WSJ.
6) This setup of this whole affair is strange. I keep thinking that Deripaska was a source for the dossier, and if so, this would explain how Waldman came in contact with Steele.
7) Manafort & Deripaska go back a long way, but then there was a falling out. I've seen some references that Manafort was attempting to get back into Derispaska's graces when Manafort was a Trump manager/advisor by sending him indirect e-mails thru a Russian businessman. But Deripaska recently filed a lawsuit against Manafort (business related).
