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FBI got court order to monitor ex-Trump
adviser in Russia probe: Washington Post
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 [April 12, 2017]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - 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 reported on Tuesday.
Citing law enforcement and other U.S. officials the Post 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. (http://wapo.st/2p3L6xi)
The judge was convinced there was probable cause to believe Page was
acting as an agent of Russia, the Post said.
Page has denied in media interviews that he worked with the Russians to
influence the election.
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 Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for
comment from Reuters, which could not independently confirm the Post
story. The White House and FBI declined to comment.
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One-time advisor of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump Carter Page
addresses the audience during a presentation in Moscow, Russia,
December 12, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
The FBI and congressional committees are investigating 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.
Russia denies the allegations, which Trump also dismisses.
(Writing by Eric Beech; Additional reporting by Nathan Layne;
Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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