Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told two Greek reporters before and after the 2016 election that he had a significant role in President Trump's victory and campaign, despite claims from the White House that Papadopoulos had a low-level role, Politico reports.

Papadopoulos had originally made the claims to two reporters from the Greek publication Kathimerini, who spoke with Politico.

The former campaign adviser told the reporters he had received a "blank check" to select a senior position in the administration, and was allowed to represent Trump overseas during the campaign with foreign officials.

The adviser also said he represented Trump at a campaign event in New York City with Greek Cypriot Americans, according to the publication.

The reporters told Politico, however, that they weren't sure they believed Papadopoulos and said he is known to exaggerate.

In addition to boasting about his expanded campaign role, Papadopoulos said President Trump had personally called him during the campaign to talk about his new position, and that he had an introductory meeting with Trump, which wasn't reported by the White House.

Papadopoulos has become a central figure in the federal and congressional probes into alleged ties between Russia and the Trump campaign and Russia's election meddling.

The revelations come weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller announced that Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents who are investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Papadopoulos said he had pitched a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the campaign, going against Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions's original claims that there had never been a discussion about meeting with Russian officials.

Trump has dismissed Papadopoulos as a low-level staffer. Sessions, however, acknowledged during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee this week, that he participated in a meeting with Papadopoulos and other Trump campaign officials last year.