Trump advisor Stone ridicules Russia probe ahead of testimony

Veteran political operative Roger Stone ridiculed the probe into Russian election interference and attacked Congress and the intelligence community Tuesday ahead of testimony at the House Intelligence Committee.

Stone, who began his career as a fun-loving political trickster for Richard Nixon and claims credit for pushing Donald Trump to run for president, lashed out at the committee for spreading "lies" in a written statement ahead of his closed-door testimony.

"I view this as a political proceeding because a number of members of this committee have made irresponsible, indisputable and provably false statements in order to create the impression of collusion with the Russian state," he said.

"I do not engage in any illegal activities on behalf of my clients or the causes which I support."

"There is one 'trick' that is not in my bag and that is treason."

The 65-year-old Stone, a behind-the-scenes tactician for a long series of Republican political campaigns, taunted the committee before heading to Congress early Tuesday.

"Never pass up a chance to have sex, be on television or testify before a House Congressional Committee," he said in a tweet.

He followed that with a tweeted photograph in the Trump International Hotel in Washington Monday evening with a huge martini glass, and another holding a classic 1976 tome, "The Russians" by Hedrick Smith, quipping: "Preparing for my testimony."

But, facing a hearing in which he will have to testify under oath for the first time, his prepared statement took serious aim at allegations that he had communications with Russian hackers and WikiLeaks.

Wikileaks published stolen emails and documents from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign last year in what US intelligence agencies said was a concerted effort to damage her White House run and boost Trump's.

He denied any such contacts, and attacked senators for making statements about him with no evidence.

He also said the US intelligence community has not provided evidence of their conclusion that Russians boosted Trump's presidential campaign and that the two sides colluded.

"Out intelligence agencies have been politicized," he said.

Source: AFP