Vindman just lied under oath…

FISA warrants are pretty narrowly defined, because they involve invading the privacy rights of American citizens. In Page's case, he's apparently worked for the FBI itself at one time or another, and I could understand his prior employment in Moscow and energy consultant roles were all of interest to the FBI. But, the warrant would have limited the government to "targeted surveillance," which would not have gone beyond Carter himself. And, Trump has said that he left the campaign early, so I doubt the warrant produced anything ultimately, which is also why he hasn't been indicted. If the FBI misused the warrant, to surveil others in the campaign not talking to Page, then that could constitute a breach of the warrant's conditions and I assume prosecutable. But, as of now, there is no evidence that that was done.
However, beyond Page and the FISA warrant, there were plenty of other Russian connections...from joint ventures in the NYC Soho district, to the Trump Tower project in Moscow, to Condo sales and golf course memberships, etc., etc. My guess, as expressed previously, is that the investigation began as a counter-intelligence investigation, based on still classified material from Russia (exclusive of the Steele dossier) and shifted into a Mueller criminal investigation with the firing of Comey.
I don't agree with your premise that Flynn, Page, Papadopolous, et al were set-up or that their civil rights were systematically ignored. When and how? Flynn and Papadopolous pled guilty to lying to the FBI (Flynn on other charges as well related to tax evasion and failure to register as a foreign agent) and Page was never indicted.

 

Possibly. But, he has to clear Putin and the Russians of the hacking, in order (IMO) to justify pardons for Manafort, Stone, and possibly Giuliani, not to mention his "associates." My underlying assumption, admittedly unproven, is that they all have more to tell and if Trump's pardon powers begin to be doubted, they may talk. The House of Cards is collapsing.

 

I have to agree with this. Obesity is not a problem in Somalia and it was not a problem in Sparta. And the cause is not mysterious.

 

All of this has been under investigation and the IG's report is coming out December 9. We'll know more then.

 

Hopefully.

 

Outside of some mistakes on the part of low-level FBI Employees, the IG Report is going to thoroughly DEBUNK any notion of a "Deep State" or a "Hoax".

It will be fun to watch the reactions of Trump (and his cronies).