Farage calls report he’s a person of interest in Russia probe ‘fake news’

Former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage lashed out at Thursday reports that he’s been named a “person of interest” in the U.S. investigation into Russian election meddling, labeling it “total, hysterical rubbish” and “fake news.”

“Can I tell you, the whole thing, if ever I’ve seen an example of fake news,” Farage told Stuart Varney on the Fox Business Network.

While criticizing the “conspiracy theory” that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, he also denied that he should be included in the investigation at all.

“It is total, hysterical rubbish. I’ve never even been to Russia. I’ve had no business dealings in Russia. I have nothing to do with Russia whatsoever,” he continued.

The firebrand politician’s comments following a report from The Guardian saying he had been named a person of interest in the federal probe into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russian election interference.

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Farage has not been accused of a crime nor is he a target of the FBI probe, the newspaper reported.

Sources told The Guardian that the anti-establishment politician’s relationships with people such as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange subject him to increased scrutiny.

“Suddenly I am at the center of an international spider’s web as if I’m somehow between [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, Trump and Julian Assange,” he told Fox Business.

Farage met with Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London last March.

Farage, who aligned himself with President Trump during the U.S. presidential election and Brexit campaigns, cast blame on “liberal elites.”

“The liberal elites could not cope with Brexit, were beside themselves with the election of Donald Trump. They can’t blame themselves,” he said, naming former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton among the “liberal elites.”

“This is the liberal elite who are bad losers who are trying to find a way out,” he said.

Trump has also criticized recent reports on the federal investigation into Russian collusion with his campaign as a “witch hunt” and repeatedly denied any involvement.