Carter Page sues over surveillance related to Russia probe

Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page filed a federal lawsuit alleging he was the victim of “unlawful spying” during the FBI’s Russia investigation.

The suit, filed Friday in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges that the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) made a series of errors when they submitted applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2016 and 2017 for a warrant to surveil Page, according to The Associated Press. 

The FBI and DOJ at the time suspected that Page was a Russian agent. 

“Since not a single proven fact ever established complicity with Russia involving Dr. Page, there never was probable cause to seek or obtain the [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] FISA Warrants targeting him on this basis,” the case alleges.

Defendants named in the suit include the FBI and the Justice Department, former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and other officials involved in the Russia investigation.

The case also claims that Page has suffered as a result of his involvement in the Russia probe, according to the case. Page alleges that he has suffered economic losses, experienced death and kidnapping threats, and damage to his reputation, according to the law suit. 

A 2019 DOJ inspector general report came to similar conclusions to what Page is alleging.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz at the time found that the FBI was justified in investigating possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, but that there were “serious performance failures” on the part of the bureau’s chain of command, according to the AP.

Since then, the FBI has initiated over 40 corrective measures to improve the accuracy and thoroughness of future applications.

Page’s complaint also accuses the FBI of relying heavily on the information provided in the Steele Dossier — a collection of information provided by former British spy Christopher Steele.

Steele’s research into the Trump campaign’s alleged ties with Russia in 2016 was funded by Democrats.

Page was a contact for the CIA from 2008 to 2013, and his lawsuit alleges that the FBI mislead the surveillance court regarding the relationship with the agency. 

Page has never been charged as a result of the Russia probe.