"This is fake news": Farage responds to claim that he is a person of interest in FBI investigation

Nigel Farage is a “person of interest” in the FBI’s investigation into potential collusion between Donald Trump and the Russian government, according to an article published by the Guardian.

Although clear that Farage is not a suspect, the article claims that “investigators believe he may have information about the acts that are under investigation."

It quotes a source who says “If you triangulate Russia, Wikileaks, Assange and Trump associates the person who comes up with the most hits is Nigel Farage."

The investigation was formally announced in March, with then-FBI director James Comey saying that the agency would continue its investigation into whether members of Trump’s team colluded with the Kremlin “no matter how long that takes."

Comey was fired early last month. Trump cited the former director’s handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server as his motivation, although his letter to Comey was seen by many to have, as the New York Times put it, “betrayed his focus” by bringing up the investigation:

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau.

Last November, Farage became the first foreign politician to have a face-to-face meeting with the newly-elected Trump. He has also previously stressed his admiration for Putin; in 2014, he told GQ magazine that the world leader he most admired was Putin, although he was keen to stress he was considering him “As an operator, but not as a human being… The way he played the whole Syria thing. Brilliant. Not that I approve of him politically. How many journalists in jail now?”

Despite his scruples, Farage subsequently re-iterated his admiration for the Russian premier when, saying “I wouldn’t want to live in his country, but compared with the kids who run foreign policy in this country, I’ve more respect for him than our lot.”

In a statement published in full by Guido Fawkes, Farage has branded the Guardian’s article “fake news," saying:

In response to the Guardian article, it has taken me a long time to finish reading because I am laughing so much.

This hysterical attempt to associate me with the Putin regime is a result of the liberal elite being unable to accept Brexit and the election of President Trump.

I consider it extremely doubtful that I could be a person of interest to the FBI as I have no connections to Russia.