The Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive a lawsuit filed by Carter Page, a former aide to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign who was subjected to secret surveillance during the FBI's Russia investigation.
Case Dismissed
The justices rejected Page's appeal, effectively ending his legal battle against former FBI Director James Comey and other officials. Page alleged unlawful spying during the probe into whether Trump's campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election. He settled with the U.S. government for $1.25 million but sought to continue pursuing claims against individual officials.
Background of the Surveillance
Page was never charged with any wrongdoing and vehemently denied any improper ties to Russia. A government watchdog report harshly criticized the surveillance applications used in his case, citing omissions and errors by FBI and Justice Department officials in applications submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2016 and 2017.
Lower courts had thrown out the lawsuit, partly because Page did not sue the individuals who actually carried out the surveillance. The Supreme Court's brief order provided no reasoning for its decision, as is typical.
Reforms and Broader Investigation
Former FBI and Justice Department leaders involved in approving the surveillance have since stated they would not have done so had they known the extent of the issues. The FBI has initiated over 40 corrective steps to improve the accuracy and thoroughness of such applications.
Despite the problems with the warrant applications, Page's surveillance was only a small part of the broader investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russia interfered in the election on Trump's behalf and that the campaign welcomed the assistance, though no criminal conspiracy was established.
Settlements
Page settled with the Trump administration in April while his Supreme Court appeal was pending. This followed a $1.2 million settlement with Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and was later pardoned.
