Since news broke last weekend that businessman Carter Page is suing the FBI and Justice Department for $75 million over the improper targeting him during the Russia collusion investigation, the liberal media have shown no interest in the story alleging abuse of power against the former Donald Trump campaign economic advisor. By contrast, Fox News Channel have covered the story several times, and even interviewed Page on Fox & Friends Sunday.
The suit names prominent figures involved in the Russia collusion investigation, including former FBI director James Comey, former deputy director Andrew McCabe and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page. McCabe and Lisa Page notably are legal analysts for CNN and MSNBC, respectively.
At 9:32 a.m. Sunday, Pete Hegseth recalled that Carter Page authored the book Abuse and Power, based on the experience, as the Fox & Friends Sunday co-host set up a five-minute interview: "Former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page filing a $75 million lawsuit against the DOJ and FBI over what he calls unlawful surveillance as part of the special counsel's investigation into alleged Russian collusion." Page began by recalling some of the alleged wrongdoing:
It's been a very long battle over four years since this illegal spying was happening -- started during the Obama-Biden administration, and it continued for over a year. And after so many crimes have already been uncovered -- by actually an Obama appointee, Mr. Horowitz -- last December, this is -- it's just a clear, very clear-cut case, that justice needs to be restore restored.
Hegseth then used recent clips of Comey and McCabe from congressional testimony suggesting that the surveillance of Carter Page should not have happened:
HEGSETH: So you've named the DOJ, FBI, Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Page, even FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith -- who pleaded guilty, by the way, to falsifying e-mail. There's a lot of people, including from this clip from Comey and McCabe who in retrospect now have changed their tune. Take a listen to what they said recently.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC) (dated September 30): Knowing then what you know now about all of the things that we've come to find, would you have still signed the warrant application against Carter Page?
JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: No, I would want a much more complete understanding of what we were (audio gap) --
SENATOR GRAHAM: Thank you very much.
SENATOR GRAHAM (dated November 10): If you knew then what you know now, would you have signed the warrant application in June of 2017 against Carter page?
ANDREW MCCABE, FORMER DEPUTY FBI DIRECTOR: No, sir.
Page went on to declare that he hopes to learn more about how his case was handled through the lawsuit. On Monday morning, the weekday edition of Fox & Friends replayed a clip from the Sunday interview.
Fox & Friends Sunday was sponsored in part by Transitions. Let them know you appreciate them supporting Fox's efforts to keep voters informed on such critical issues.
Below is a transcript of the November 29 Fox & Friends Sunday. Click "expand" to read more.
Fox News Channel
Fox & Friends
November 29, 2020
9:32 a.m. Eastern
PETE HEGSETH: Former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page filing a $75 million lawsuit against the DOJ and FBI over what he calls unlawful surveillance as part of the special counsel's investigation into alleged Russian collusion. Carter Page joins us now he's also the author of Abuse and Power: How an Innocent American Was Framed in an Attempted Coup Against the President. Carter Page, thank you so much for being here this morning. I should remind our viewers as well you went to the naval academy -- you were an intel lieutenant -- so thank you for your service to our country as well. You filed this lawsuit -- what do you hope to come from it?
CARTER PAGE, FORMER DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: Well, I'm hoping for real justice, Pete. It's been a very long battle over four years since this illegal spying was happening -- started during the Obama-Biden administration, and it continued for over a year. And after so many crimes have already been uncovered -- by actually an Obama appointee, Mr. Horowitz -- last December, this is -- it's just a clear, very clear-cut case, that justice needs to be restore restored.
HEGSETH: Absolutely. So you've named the DOJ, FBI, Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Page, even FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith -- who pleaded guilty, by the way, to falsifying e-mail. There's a lot of people, including from this clip from Comey and McCabe who in retrospect now have changed their tune. Take a listen to what they said recently.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC) (dated September 30): Knowing then what you know now about all of the things that we've come to find, would you have still signed the warrant application against Carter Page?
JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: No, I would want a much more complete understanding of what we were (audio gap) --
SENATOR GRAHAM: Thank you very much.
SENATOR GRAHAM (dated November 10): If you knew then what you know now, would you have signed the warrant application in June of 2017 against Carter page?
ANDREW MCCABE, FORMER DEPUTY FBI DIRECTOR: No, sir.
HEGSETH: So they've already admitted under oath that they were wrong. What is their defense?
(...)
HEGSETH: Fightback.law to support Carter Page's efforts. Real quick in closing, you were the victim of being spied on for political purposes by administration DOJ and FBI. Do you believe the safeguards are in place to prevent that from happening to someone else in the future?
PAGE: I think the commentary by Chairman Graham and so many members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the need for serious reforms, We really don't have the full truth yet, Pete, and unfortunately, as we were just discussing, it's going to be a long road ahead, so I think there's a lot more than needs to be done for sure. Pete.
