Trump spreads conspiracy theory about CNN and FBI collusion on Stone arrest
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Trump spreads conspiracy theory about CNN and FBI collusion on Stone arrest

Right-wing news outlets claim the FBI and CNN conspired to capture footage of the Roger Stone raid.

ABC News/YouTube

Ellen Ioanes— | Last updated

On Friday, President Donald Trump tweeted about his associate Roger Stone‘s arrest during a raid by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“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?”

In the tweet, Trump suggested that CNN was tipped off or in some way colluding with the FBI to capture footage of the raid on Stone’s Florida home.

But Trump didn’t originate that conspiracy theory. Like most, it worked its way up from the nether reaches of the far-right internet to the president’s Twitter feed.

It kicked off with a claim from former Fox New host Greta Van Susteren in the immediate aftermath of the raid.

Earlier Friday morning, Media Matters for America disinformation and social media researcher Natalie Martinez tweeted images of right-wing outlet Gateway Pundit’s coverage of the raid.

“Far-right media are running with conspiracy theories about CNN supposedly colluding with Mueller to get footage of Roger Stone’s arrest in a coordinated ‘propaganda effort,'” Martinez wrote.

Gateway Pundit’s headlines include, “COLLUSION! MUELLER TIPS OFF CNN -Entire Stone Pre-Dawn Raid Captured By Anti-Trump Channel,” “Investigative Journalist Cardillo: ONLY CNN Tipped Off on Stone Pre-Dan Raid—Local Channels Had NO IDEA of Friday Raid.”

Martinez later pointed out that Stone had, at one time, been a correspondent for the Gateway Pundit.

The Daily Caller also amplified the theory; one headline asks, “How Exactly Did CNN Get Footage of Roger Stone’s Arrest?” Reporter Amber Athey called CNN’s presence on the scene  “a seemingly too-perfect scenario” and quoted Blaze Tv’s Jordan Schachtel, who tweeted:

“You don’t have to be a Roger Stone fan to be horrified by the stunt the FBI pulled off in conspiring with CNN this morning. The completely unnecessary raid is a routine that is straight out of a third-world police state. There is no defense of such an excessive show of force.”

The Daily Caller neglected to note Stone’s ties to the site as well.

“Interesting how The Daily Caller’s coverage of Roger Stone’s indictment doesn’t mention that Stone is listed as one of their correspondents,” Martinez wrote.

But the speculation is essentially without merit. In the wake of far-right media throwing up their arms, CNN responded explaining that because Mueller convening a grand jury on Thursday instead of Friday like he normally does, the network thought Stone might be arrested.

In fact, there is a clip of CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz speculating last night that Stone would be arrested today.

Van Susteren has since walked back her claims on Twitter.

Stone was charged with seven counts, including obstruction of proceeding, making false statements, and witness tampering.

Ellen Ioanes

Ellen Ioanes

Ellen Ioanes is the FOIA reporter at the Daily Dot, where she covers U.S. politics. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School, and her work has appeared in the Guardian, the Center for Public Integrity, HuffPost India, and more.

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