The FBI used the largely debunked Trump dossier, which alleged Russian ties to the President’s campaign associates, to convince a judge to grant them a FISA warrant, allowing them to secretly monitor Carter Page.
FBI Director James Comey has cited the dossier in some of his briefings with lawmakers in recent weeks as one of the information sources used by his bureau to bolster its probe, U.S. officials briefed on the investigation told CNN.
The FBI is investigating Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, as well as any potential ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
The secret court that oversees the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) granted the FBI a warrant to monitor the communications of Page, a former national security adviser on Trump’s campaign.
Top intelligence officials gave President Obama and President-elect Trump a summary of the dossier in December, when its contents first came to light.
The dossier and its claims have been the focus of intense scrutiny.
Comey’s mentions of the dossier in briefings to lawmakers contrasts with other U.S. intelligence agencies who have sought to distance themselves from it.
The court that deals with any topic related to FISA awarded the FBI a warrant to monitor communications involving Page back in 2016, Page was a former national security advisor on the President’s campaign.
There is no specifics yet on how much of the dossier was cited when the FISA application was made but the investigative agency would’ve had to corroborate some of the claims to be awarded the warrant.
