Carter Page will "plead the 5th" if forced to appear in Russia probe
Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page informed the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that he will not testify as part of their investigation into Russian interference in the election.
Paige reportedly told the committee Tuesday that he won’t cooperate in any way, and will pleading the Fifth Amendment if he is forced to appear. Reports first surfaced last year that he had previously traveled to Moscow to meet with high-level associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2016. Page has consistently denied that any such meeting took place,
After being pushed out by the Trump campaign it was also revealed that Page was investigated by the FBI for contacting a Russian intelligence officer in New York City back in 2013. They reportedly questioned him again this March as part of a DOJ investigation.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has interviewed other members of Trump’s campaign and current administration, including his son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner and his son Donald Trump Jr., to determine if the Russians directly influenced the Trump campaign or any part of the 2016 election.
Key members of the Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman have threatened to compel testimony from potential interviewees through subpoenas and internal pressure.
Earlier this year, Page claimed that he was the target of a smear campaign by high ranking people within the Hillary Clinton campaign, though no news outlets were willing to verify his seemingly outrageous claims.