Claims of Russia link fake news, says Farage
BRITISH politician Nigel Farage yesterday dismissed as “fake news” a report that he was a person of interest in the US probe of possible Russian interference in last year’s election.
His denial came after The Guardian reported the former UKIP leader – a driving force behind Brexit – was on the FBI’s radar over possible ties to people connected to Donald Trump’s campaign and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
“In response to the Guardian article, it has taken me a long time to finish reading because I am laughing so much,” Farage said. “This is fake news. “This hysterical attempt to associate me with the [Russian President Vladimir] Putin regime is a result of the liberal elite being unable to accept Brexit and the election of President Trump.”
Losing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton blames her election defeat on cyber-attacks by Russia, saying Americans, including associates of the Republican president, probably had a hand in the effort.
WikiLeaks published damaging internal e-mails from the Democratic National Committee – the governing body of the Democratic Party – which laid bare the internal tension over Clinton’s primary battle with Bernie Sanders.
Intelligence agencies believe Russia released the e-mails to damage Clinton, an allegation denied by Assange.