The "real Russia investigation" starts now, according to Carter Page, the former Trump campaign aide who was caught up in special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's probe of the 2016 presidential election.

"What happened this past weekend is really just a sideshow," Page told Hill.TV's "Rising" hosts Krystal Ball and Buck Sexton on Wednesday, referring to the summary of Mueller's conclusions delivered by Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrProsecutor says no charges in Michigan toilet voting display Judge rules Snowden to give up millions from book, speeches The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE to Congress.

"This is really the start of the real Russia investigation," he said.

Page referenced efforts from the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee, which wants to investigate the FBI's handling of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email server and the origins of Mueller's Russia probe.

"There were some criminals that did totally unconscionable behavior," Page said. "People within the government, but also within the [Democratic National Committee], which funded this, and a lot of their operatives/highly paid consultants."

"There was a lot of money flows going on behind the scenes, and so again, we're at the very start of this investigation. We're really in the initial days and hours," he said.

Page announced in October that he had filed a defamation suit against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) over the dossier compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele.

The document claims that Page communicated with Russians during the 2016 campaign.

The dossier was first funded by Republicans seeking opposition research on President Trump and later by Democratic presidential nominee Clinton's campaign and the DNC.

— Julia Manchester