Roger Stone: Talk Of My ‘Collusion’ With Russia Made Up By Intel Community

Longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone lashed out at the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee Monday, saying that his claims that Stone had contact with Russians were “manufactured by the intelligence community.”

During a hearing on Russia’s election meddling, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) noted that Stone communicated with Guccifer 2.0, a hacker that U.S. officials believe is associated with the Russian government and that published stolen Democratic National Committee emails online.

Stone said on a Monday tweet that it would only be “fair” if he could respond to allegations of collusion with Russia during the hearing.

It’s only fair that I have a chance to respond 2 any smears or half truths about alleged “Collusion with Russians” from 2day’s Intel Hearing

— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) March 20, 2017

Stone then said in an interview with SiriusXM radio’s “The Wilkow Majority” that his contact with Guccifer 2.0 was “benign” and slammed Schiff for mentioning it at the hearing. The interview was first flagged by CNN’s KFILE.

“Chairman Schiff is engaging in the worst kind of red-baiting, fear-mongering. It’s the new McCarthyism, and it’s mudslinging,” Stone said.

He insisted that his interaction with Guccifer 2.0 was “benign in its content” and said that it took place after the DNC had been hacked.

“This is does not constitute collusion,” Stone said. “I had no contacts with Russians. This one has been manufactured by the intelligence service with a nice assist from [billionaire philanthropist George] Soros and [David] Brock. I’m not gonna stop fighting for Donald Trump, nor are they going to silence me. I am anxious to go to the committee. Let’s see if they can handle the truth.”