The Department of Justice late Friday released via the FBI’s FOIA Vault a redacted copy of the Carter Page FISA warrant application which accuses him of being a Russian spy, as summarized by the New York Times – which obtained a copy of the materials through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit.
The previously top-secret document is the first such release by the DOJ in the 40 years since the surveillance law was enacted.
The application reads in part:
Identity of the target The target of this application is Carter W. Page, a U.S. person, and an agent of a foreign power, described in detail below.”
The F.B.I. believes Page has been the subject of targeted recruitment by the Russian government,” the warrant application continues.
A line was then redacted, and then it picked up with “undermine and influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election in violation of U.S. criminal law. Mr. Page is a former foreign policy adviser to a candidate for U.S. president.” -NYT
The document concludes that Page was allegedly “collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government,” which they viewed as probably cause to spy on him.
Actual document:
AC