Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a statement following a U.S. Department of Justice settlement with Carter Page related to surveillance conducted during the 2016 Russia investigation.
According to the announcement released April 23, the U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement resolving claims brought by Page over what he alleged was unlawful surveillance by federal authorities.
In his statement, Miller criticized federal agencies, saying the case involved significant errors in how surveillance was carried out. He pointed to issues with applications filed under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, commonly known as FISA, and described the situation as an example of government overreach.
Miller also referenced Donald J. Trump, saying efforts are ongoing to restore accountability and protect civil liberties at the federal level.
Page, who is currently affiliated with the Texas Department of Agriculture, was previously connected to the 2016 Russia investigation, which examined possible links between individuals associated with Trump’s campaign and Russian officials. Federal reviews in past years identified errors in the FBI’s handling of certain surveillance applications tied to that investigation.
“Under President Donald J. Trump, we are restoring the principle that civil liberties are not optional and that no one is above the law, not even the entrenched bureaucrats in the D.C. swamp who weaponized intelligence agencies to pursue a baseless political hoax. Americans deserve better than ‘spy first, ask questions later,'” he reportedly stated.
The Department of Justice has not publicly detailed all terms of the settlement, though it resolves Page’s legal claims against the federal government.
Miller said the outcome reinforces the need for transparency and safeguards against misuse of federal surveillance powers.
