“So now it is reported that the Democrats, who have excoriated Carter Page about Russia, don't want him to testify,” President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter. | Getty Trump blasts Dems after Fox airs story on Carter Page not testifying

President Donald Trump chided Democrats Wednesday morning after Fox News broadcast a story reporting that Democrats revoked former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page’s invitation to testify before Congress about his potential ties to the Russian government.

Page, who advised the Trump campaign on foreign policy issues, is one of a handful of individuals with ties to the president who find themselves at the center of ongoing investigations examining the possibility of collusion between the Kremlin and the president’s election team.


Page has denied that he had any inappropriate contact with Russian officials and on Monday, wrote a letter to Congress complaining that he might not be allowed to testify to that effect.

“So now it is reported that the Democrats, who have excoriated Carter Page about Russia, don't want him to testify,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “He blows away their case against him & now wants to clear his name by showing ‘the false or misleading testimony by James Comey, John Brennan ...’ Witch Hunt!”

The president’s post apparently was in response to a segment on the Fox News morning show “Fox & Friends,” of which Page's letter was the subject. The conservative-leaning program, known to be a favorite of Trump’s, included a panel of hosts who were incredulous that Democrats might not allow Page to testify.

In an emailed statement, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) did not directly address the status of Page's testimony but said he and Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), who has taken the lead on the committee's Russia investigation since Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) recused himself, were in the process of preparing for witness interviews.

“Mr. Conaway and I have agreed to review relevant documents before interviewing witnesses, as you would expect in a comprehensive investigation," Schiff said. "And while we anticipate interviews to begin shortly, we have agreed that the pace of those interviews will be dictated by the needs of the investigation and not the preferences of outside parties.”