FBI Got FISA Warrant to Monitor Ex-Trump Adviser in Russia Probe

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By Kody Fairfield

The FBI secured a court order in 2016 to secretly surveil the communications of Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, as the agency investigates possible ties between the campaign and Russia, the Washington Post has reported.

WaPo, Citing law enforcement and other U.S. officials reported that the warrant for Page was obtained last summer by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

According to WaPo, the judge overseeing the request was convinced there was probable cause to believe Page was acting as an agent of Russia.

The accusations of collusion between Page and Russia have been denied publically many times.

In a statement to Reuters on Tuesday, Page said the court order was evidence that the administration of former President Barack Obama wanted to “suppress dissidents” who opposed its foreign policy.

“It will be interesting to see what comes out when the unjustified basis for those FISA requests are more fully disclosed over time …,” he said.

The DoJ did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters, which could not independently confirm WaPo’s story. The White House and FBI have declined to comment.

Congressional investigation committees are whether Russia tried to influence the election in Trump’s favor, mostly by hacking Democratic operatives’ emails and releasing embarrassing information, or possibly by colluding with Trump associates, a claim which Trump, his administration, and Russia have all denied.

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