Trump rips Russia probe, urges testimony from former adviser
President Donald Trump is reprising his attack against those calling for an investigation into the administration and his surrogates over alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
So now it is reported that the Democrats, who have excoriated Carter Page about Russia, don't want him to testify. He blows away their....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
In a series of new tweets, Mr. Trump focused his attention on his former foreign policy adviser Carter Page, who is also considered a part of the ongoing investigation.
Mr. Trump tweeted "the Democrats, who have excoriated Carter Page about Russia, don't want him to testify." The president added: "He blows away their case against him and now wants to clear his name by showing the 'false or misleading testimony by James Comey, John Brennan…' Witch Hunt!"
...case against him & now wants to clear his name by showing "the false or misleading testimony by James Comey, John Brennan..." Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
In a letter sent to the House Intelligence Committee after Page found out he would not be able to address Comey and Brennan's testimony at a June 6th private meeting, Page wrote that he hopes "to have the opportunity to restart our dialogue in person within the very near future during testimony before a public Committee hearing."
Carter Page Letter to HPSCI by CBS News Politics on Scribd
Page had previously denied he was in regular contact with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign. He provided a 12-page letter to Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, informing lawmakers that he is willing to testify on his knowledge of any Russian interference, but only in the form of an open and public hearing.
Page has also informed Congress that he has no intention of turning over material evidence that lawmakers requested unless they give him records he had previously requested in return.
Page's prior contacts with Russian officials, including a conversation with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak at an event on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention, have given lawmakers pause over just who in the Trump administration has had contacts with the Russian government before and during Mr. Trump's presidency.
The former oil industry consultant also was the subject of FBI monitoring during the campaign because the federal government had reason to believe Page was acting as a Russian agent, including contacts Page had with Russian intelligence operatives back in 2013 according to a report by the Washington Post.