Downer foe Papadopoulos testifies to US congress

A former Trump adviser, who claims Alexander Downer spied on him, has testified before congressional committees in Washington.

George Papadopoulos arrives in Capitol Hill yesterday. Picture: AFP

George Papadopoulos, a former adviser to Donald Trump’s election campaign who claims Alexander Downer and the Australian government spied on him, has testified for six hours before sparsely attended US congressional committees in Washington.

Just what Papadopoulos told the three congressmen who turned up yesterday for the closed-door meetings before the Republican-controlled House of Representatives judiciary and oversight and government reform committees was not clear. The two Republicans and one Democrat congressmen were tight-lipped about the Chicago-born 31-year-old’s testimony.

Papadopoulos, who has launched Twitter tirades at Mr Downer, the former Australian high commissioner to the UK, was careful with his words after he emerged from Capitol Hill.

“I’m glad both sides were able to ask me any questions that they had,” he said before his lawyer drew him away. Attendance was sparse because congress is in ­recess and most members are campaigning before next month’s mid-term elections.

Mark Meadows, one of the two Republicans, described Papadopoulos as a “critical witness” into finding out why the FBI launched its mid-2016 probe into potential collusion between Russia and Mr Trump’s presidential campaign.

“What we’re finding, without talking about specifics of what’s going on, is that the whole reason that this investigation was opened up was certainly not one built on a solid foundation,” he said.

Jamie Raskin, the lone Democrat congressman, described ­Papadopoulos’ testimony as continuing “the kangaroo court of the Republican efforts to undermine” special counsel Bob Mueller’s Russian investigation.

Mr Raskin questioned ­Papadopoulos’ credibility after he was prosecuted by Mr Mueller and sentenced last month to 14 days’ jail for lying to the FBI.

“I see this whole thing as a footnote to a sideshow of a wild-goose chase,” he said. “There is a right-wing echo chamber that traffics in rumours and lies and fake news.”

A May 2016 London drinks session between Mr Downer and Papadopoulos has been credited with starting the FBI probe. Mr Downer said Papadopoulos told him “the Russians might use material” they had on Mr Trump’s presidential rival Hillary Clinton in the lead-up to the election, “which may be damaging”. He forwarded the information to Canberra and it made its way to the FBI. Papadopoulos says he has no recollection of offering the tip.

AAP