washington special counsel investigate whether russia try sway 2016 u.s. election take fbi inquiries former british spy dossier allegations russian financial personal link president donald trump campaign associate source familiar inquiry tell reuters report compile former mi6 officer christopher steele identify russian businessmen others u.s. intelligence analysts conclude russian intelligence officer work behalf russian government spokesman special counsel robert mueller decline comment fbi also decline comment three source knowledge mueller probe say investigators assume control multiple inquiries allegations u.s. intelligence agencies russia interfere election benefit trump republican russia repeatedly deny meddle election two officials familiar investigations say mueller team senate intelligence committee seek evidence former trump campaign manager paul manafort others financial deal russia might help kremlin intelligence agencies target email hack social media post undermine trump election opponent democrat hillary clinton wednesday senate panel chairman richard burr tell reporters issue whether trump campaign collude russia remain open question come determination collusion burr say trump call allegations campaign collusion moscow hoax face question matter since take office january trump tell former fbi director jam comey steele report contain salacious material businessman-turned-president burr say wednesday senate panel make several attempt contact steele meet offer go unaccepted committee really decide credibility dossier without understand things like pay source sub-sources burr say burr say panel want finish investigation end year although several news organizations include reuters brief steele dossier election november decide report material inflammatory sometimes salacious content could verify report publish january four u.s. intelligence agencies say take dossier allegations seriously separately three russian businessmen mikhail fridman petr aven german khan sue washington investigations firm fusion gps founder glenn simpson allegations libel steele dossier spokeswoman simpson fusion gps decline comment lawsuit file tuesday u.s. district court washington lawsuit say steele report gravely damage businessmen accuse criminal conduct allege cooperation kremlin influence 2016 presidential election information trump collect steele officials say one mi6 respect russia hand lay last year political opposition research initially finance supporters one trump republican primary election opponents trump republican nomination july backers clinton pick support steele work lawsuit say dossier allegations false imply improper ongoing relationship businessmen alfa group financial company investors russian president vladimir putin russian government official act middleman contact 'trump dossier russia link part special counsel 's probe source