Trump confidante and Florida man Roger Stone filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to release leaked Democratic National Committee emails.
Stone called the case “nothing more than a manufactured claim” filed by a group of “Obama era attorneys who are still smarting that their chosen candidate did not win the presidency.”
“I worked tirelessly to elect Donald J. Trump President of the United States and I did so legally and ethically,” said Stone. “As I have said many times before, there is one trick that is not in my book: treason. This Russian collusion lawsuit that the lawyers and their found plaintiffs have continued to push, is nothing more than an attempt to keep me from sharing my opinions on issues of the day.”
Former DNC staffer Scott Comer and two Democratic donors -- Roy Cockrum and Eric Schoenberg -- filed the suit against Stone and President Donald Trump’s campaign in July, effectively blaming Stone and the Trump campaign for their personal information being leaked among the DNC emails.
Stone filed the motion under D.C.’s Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), which allows defendants to seek redress by filing anti-SLAPP motions to dismiss. The lawsuit, Stone says, should be dismissed for a multitude of reasons, alleging the plaintiffs have a “lack of evidence” to lead to their conclusion.
Stone’s attorneys also say the court doesn’t have jurisdiction over the case and also allege there is a lack of diversity jurisdiction.
The motion to dismiss also says the Court has no jurisdiction over Stone himself as well as a failure to plead civil rights violations.
SLAPP lawsuits intend to censor or intimidate defendants by requiring them to spend exorbitant amounts of money on legal fees.
Twenty-eight states, including the District of Columbia, have statutory precautions against SLAPP lawsuits.
Stone has repeatedly denied collusion with the Russians in recent months, raising eyebrows over his relationship with prolific hacker Guccifer 2.0, the hacker or group of hackers who claims they were responsible for the DNC email leaks.
"I have had no contacts or collusions with the Russians," he said. "And my exchange with Guccifer 2.0, based on the content and the timing, most certainly does not constitute collusion. My brief exchange with him is six weeks after the hacking of the and publication of the DNC documents, which I'm accused of colluding with him on. In other words, I would need a time machine in order to collude."
Stone’s attorneys dismissed the lawsuit as nothing more than a witch hunt due to Stone’s often extravagant way of expressing himself as well as his political beliefs.
“Mr. Stone has been at the forefront of major and infamous political battles and campaigns his whole adult life,” said lead counsel Robert Buschel. “He was attacked in this lawsuit because of his beliefs and expressions. Today, he SLAPPed back hard, like the ingenious tactician he is and which continues to make him a legend in the world of politics."
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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