The focus on Page really heightened after he began associating with Victor Podobnyy. Podobnyy was a junior attaché at the Russian consulate and also a spy runner for the SVR. With Page, Podobnyy played at being Russian businessman. He brought in a second actor who took the role of a friendly Russian banker in these talks. Not only did they pick out Page for targeting, Page admitted initiating a meeting with Podobnyy on at least one occasion “to practice his Russian.”

It was Podobnyy who helped make Page better known.

Mr. Podobnyy promised through his contacts with Russian trade officials to steer contracts to Mr. Page. “I will feed him empty promises,” he was overheard saying, according to the transcript.

Podobnyy was arrested for espionage just six months before Carter Page was selected as an energy adviser for the Trump campaign. The “banker” is currently serving a 30-month sentence for conspiracy. But Podobnyy’s PR work in driving business to Page likely played a role in raising Page’s profile enough to catch Trump’s attention.

As Page moved into the Trump campaign, the continued interest from the FBI that made him worth the large effort required for a FISA warrant isn’t hard to understand.

Over the course of the campaign, Mr. Page traveled to Russia at least twice and kept top Trump campaign advisers abreast of his travels, Mr. Page told the House panel.