On the newly-released Carter Page FISA wiretap application: There are many blacked-out paragraphs and pages. I don't know what is in them. That said, here, from the unredacted portions, is the dog's breakfast of a case the FBI made for wiretapping Page: 1/14
1) The FBI believes Page has been recruited by the Russians. 2) Page is a former adviser to Donald Trump. 3) Russia, as always, is trying to influence the US election. 2/14
4) The FBI 'believes that the Russian Government's efforts are being coordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with [the Trump campaign].' 5) From 2004-2007, Page lived in Moscow, working in the energy business. 3/14
6) Years later, in New York, some Russians tried to recruit Page [unsuccessfully]. 7) Page gave at least one interview to the FBI. 8) In July 2016, Page gave a speech in Moscow. 4/14
9) The FBI has a source, "Source #1" [dossier author Christopher Steele], who says Page met with Sechin and Divyekin, discussed lifting US sanctions. 5/14
10) The FBI believes Source #1 is credible, even though he's working for someone whom the FBI 'speculates" is trying to discredit Trump. 11) The FBI has paid Steele. 12) Steele said Page and Divyekin discussed possible 'kompromat' on Hillary Clinton. 6/14
13) In July 2016, Josh Rogin of the Washington Post wrote that the Trump campaign worked to make sure the GOP platform did not call for arms to Ukraine. (For the whole story, see here: washingtonexaminer.com/byron-york-wha… ) 7/14
14) In August 2016, Michael Crowley of Politico wrote that Trump adopted a 'milder' tone on Russia's annexation of Crimea, which could have possibly, maybe been the influence of Page. 8/14
15) On September 23, 2016, Michael Isikoff of Yahoo wrote that U.S. intelligence received reports that Page had met with Sechin and Divyekin in Moscow. 16) Isikoff wrote that members of Congress were 'taken aback' by the alleged meetings. 9/14
17) The FBI does not believe Source #1 [Steele] 'directly provided' the information to Isikoff. 18) Isikoff wrote that Page's role in the campaign is 'unclear.' 19) On September 25, 2016, Kellyanne Conway told CNN Page was 'not part of the campaign I'm running.' 10/14
20) Also on September 25, Page sent a letter to the FBI denying the allegations in the Isikoff article. 21) On September 26, the Post's Rogin posted an interview with Page in which Page called the allegations 'garbage' and said he did not meet with Sechin or Divyekin. 11/14
22) In sum, the FBI believes Page is a) an agent of Russia; b) will 'engage in clandestine activities' on Russia's behalf; and c) those activities 'involve or are about to involve violations of the criminal statutes.' 23) Therefore, wiretap Carter Page. 12/14
Now again, there are lots of blacked-out parts. Perhaps they make it all make sense. And perhaps this seems old news because the FBI only released the parts that have already been made public. 13/14
But the application seems a weak mix of Page's history, the dossier, and a bunch of press reports of varying reliability. And that's how a wiretap of a US citizen in the incredibly consequential Trump-Russia investigation was approved? 14/14 End.
