Roger Stone: Russian collusion? It’s a delusion

Roger Stone at his book signing in Boca Raton, Fla., on March 21, 2017.

(Photo: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

Next Tuesday, I will testify before the House Intelligence Committee in its ongoing investigation into whether Donald Trump, his family, campaign or associates colluded with the Russian government to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

I am testifying voluntarily and have not requested or received a grant of immunity. I have been eager to do so since several members of the committee made allegations in public session that I had advance notice of either the hacking of Hillary Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta’s emails or of the content of material published by WikiLeaks that proved embarrassing to the Clinton campaign. FactCheck.org, a non-partisan news organization, reported that those allegations are not established by the record.

The torrent of leaks and allegations from our intelligence agencies on the question of Russian collusion demonstrates the extent to which these agencies have been politicized. Repetition of the mantra that "the Russians colluded with the Trump campaign” does not make it true.

The New York Times reported in January that intelligence agencies are examining emails, records of financial transactions and intercepted communications as part of an investigation into possible links between Russian officials and former Trump associates, including me. The Times, the Senate and House intelligence committees and our intelligence services have yet to make public any incriminating materials for a simple reason: They do not exist.

In addition, the reported meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian attorney who claimed to have documentation of malfeasance by Hillary Clinton was neither improper nor illegal.

I believe that the entire allegation of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign is the brainchild of Clinton operative John Podesta, most likely to distract from the lucrative business contracts that he and his brother enjoyed with the oligarchs around Vladimir Putin. In short, the claim of Russian collusion with Trump is a politically motivated fairy tale.

Roger Stone is a longtime political consultant and adviser to President Trump.

USA TODAY