‘Fake news!’ Farage laughs off claim he’s a ‘person of interest’ in FBI’s Russia-Trump probe
Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage has laughed off reports by the Guardian that he is a “person of interest” in an FBI investigation into alleged collusion between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as “fake news.”
According to the newspaper, the former UKIP leader and MEP has attracted the interest of US investigators because of his relationship with individuals connected to both the Trump campaign and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, which published troves of hacked emails that damaged Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Russia has adamantly denied all allegations of collusion in the US election.
“In response to the Guardian article, it has taken me a long time to finish reading because I am laughing so much,” Farage says.
“The hysterical attempt to associate me with the Putin regime is a result of the liberal elite being unable to accept Brexit and the election of President Trump.
“For the record, I have never been to Russia, I’ve had no business dealings with Russia in my previous life and I have appeared approximately three times on RT in the last 18 months.
“I consider it extremely doubtful that I could be a person of interest to the FBI as I have no connections to Russia.
“My meeting with Julian Assange was organized for me by LBC Radio with a view to conducting an interview.”
He added: “This is fake news.”
In response to the Guardian article, it has taken me a long time to finish reading because I am laughing so much at this fake news.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 1, 2017
I consider it extremely doubtful that I could be a person of interest to the FBI as I have no connections to Russia.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 1, 2017
The Guardian’s sources say Farage is a person of interest because of his proximity to people at the heart of their investigation. Farage has not been accused of any wrongdoing but the FBI thinks he has information about the acts under investigation, the newspaper reports.
“One of the things the intelligence investigators have been looking at is points of contact and persons involved,” a source said.
“If you triangulate Russia, WikiLeaks, Assange and Trump associates the person who comes up with the most hits is Nigel Farage. He’s right in the middle of these relationships. He turns up over and over again. There’s a lot of attention being paid to him.”
Farage was the first British politician to meet Trump following his election victory, and they had their picture taken together in front of a golden elevator in Trump Tower. The pair met again in February, where they had dinner with Trump’s daughter and advisor, Ivanka, and her husband and White House advisor, Jared Kushner.
It was a great honour to spend time with @realDonaldTrump. He was relaxed and full of good ideas. I'm confident he will be a good President. pic.twitter.com/kx8cGRHYPQ
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) November 12, 2016
In November, Trump suggested Farage should become the British ambassador to the US.
Many people would like to see @Nigel_Farage represent Great Britain as their Ambassador to the United States. He would do a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016
CIA director John Brennan has claimed WikiLeaks worked with Russia via third parties. Assange has denied these claims.
Brennan has also claimed Russia “brazenly interfered” in the 2016 US presidential election, however, he admitted to a House Select Committee on intelligence last week that he had there were “unresolved questions” as to whether any Trump campaign officials actually colluded with Russia.
