Whitaker feeds conspiracy theory about CNN and the FBI’s raid on Roger Stone’s home

Andrew Harnik/AP

Acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker on Friday offered credence to a conspiracy theory about CNN and an FBI raid on Roger Stone’s home.
The raid on the longtime GOP strategist’s home was caught on live TV by CNN, which prompted suggestions from Trump and others that the network had been tipped off by special counsel Robert Mueller.
CNN has strongly rejected the suggestion Mueller or anyone on his team leaked the news of the raid, and said they camped out near Stone’s home after they noticed "unusual" grand jury activity in the capital.

Acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker on Friday fueled a conspiracy theory regarding CNN and the FBI raid on Roger Stone’s Florida home in January.

Whitaker was appearing before the House Judiciary Committee to offer testimony on his oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference and other pertinent matters.

Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, the ranking Republican member on the committee, asked Whitaker, "Are you familiar, from public reports or otherwise, that a CNN reporter was camped out outside of Stone’s house when the FBI arrested him?"

Whitaker responded, "I am aware of that, and it was deeply concerning to me as to how CNN found out about that."

Collins, apparently pleased with Whitaker’s expressed concern on the matter, said he’s "glad we’re going down that road."

Since Stone was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller in January and subsequently arrested in a raid caught on live TV by CNN, President Donald Trump and his allies have latched onto a conspiracy theory that the network was tipped off about the operation.

After the raid, Trump tweeted, "Greatest Witch Hunt in the History of our Country! NO COLLUSION! Border Coyotes, Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers are treated better. Who alerted CNN to be there?"

CNN has vehemently rejected the notion it was tipped off by Mueller, who has garnered a reputation for vigilantly preventing leaks and having an extremely limited relationship with the press.

Responding to Trump’s unfounded suggestion, CNN’s communication team stated, "CNN’s ability to capture the arrest of Roger Stone was the result of determined reporting and interpreting clues revealed in the course of events. That’s called journalism. #FactsFirst."

As INSIDER reported last month, David Shortell, a producer at CNN, said the team was staked out at Stone’s home this morning after CNN reporters noticed "unusual" grand jury activities in Washington on Thursday. CNN reporters interpreted the activity as a possible signal that Stone’s arrest was imminent.

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Source: Business Insider