Carter Page Thursday flatly denied reports on his communications with Russians as being "false and misleading," and maintained he had a very limited role as an "informal, unpaid volunteer" in President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
"Literally someone who is putting signs on a yard in Idaho did more than I did," Page told "CBS This Morning," even though he's been identified as a former campaign policy adviser. "I was constantly getting badgered by all these fake allegations about my supposed interactions with Russian officials."
Page made the comments in response to an article in The Washington Post earlier this week that the FBI and the Justice Department had obtained a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant after a judge found probable cause to believe Page was acting as an agent for Russia.
Trump on Wednesday posted several tweets calling the investigation a "witch hunt," claiming Democrats have "excoriated" Page with their claims.
On Thursday, Page said the support from Trump was "kind" and is the kind that "really reflects the support he gives to Americans in general."
"I wish he didn't have to support me," said Page. "He's basically sticking up for civil rights."
However, Page insisted that he has never met Trump in person, but he does agree with the president's contentions on Thursday that the real story is the "unmasking and surveillance" that the Obama administration had done.
"I think the influence that was taken by the Obama administration had a much bigger impact," said Page. "I see a lot evidence of potential collusion and also influence on the election by false propaganda and false information against attacking me and a lot of people that were supporters of the Trump campaign, which is unfortunate."
Page, meanwhile, claimed a meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the Republican National Convention was a "hello," but beyond that, he does not "like talking about confidential information. Everyone agreed in that meeting it was off the record."
Page said he's still willing to tell lawmakers his side of the story. On Wednesday, the House Intelligence Committee issued seven subpoenas, including one to former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.