(More) Repub Venality Open Thread: Roger’s Stones

Roger Stone is selling ‘Roger’ stones https://t.co/rsMfGf5Sym pic.twitter.com/Kb5qzzDwqK

— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) December 17, 2018

Those are replicas. Mueller has his real ones in a vice. #hoboheretic Enjoy.

— Tim Fuller (@thetimchannel) December 17, 2018

Roger Stone has to settle a defamation lawsuit by publishing ads in the Wall Street Journal and other places apologizing.https://t.co/No0tWzgjjO pic.twitter.com/ZNX1ObJ9uA

— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 18, 2018

… Unrelated to the Russia probe, Mr. Stone’s settlement is the latest indication that his use of various media platforms to spread unfounded claims isn’t without consequences. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s office is investigating Mr. Stone’s role in orchestrating stories about key events being examined in the Russia probe, the Journal has reported.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), who is expected to take control of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Sunday of Mr. Stone’s testimony last year: “I believe there’s ample reason to be concerned about his truthfulness.” Mr. Stone has accused Mr. Schiff of “smear tactics” and said he stands by his testimony.

The settlement resulted from a lawsuit filed in Florida federal court in March by exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui. Mr. Guo sued Mr. Stone for falsely accusing him of being a “turncoat criminal who is convicted of crimes here and in China.” Mr. Stone also accused Mr. Guo of violating U.S. election laws by making political donations to Hillary Clinton, according to the lawsuit. It is illegal for foreign nationals to donate to U.S. election campaigns…

Mr. Guo drew scrutiny from Beijing in 2017 after he launched a high-stakes social media campaign alleging wrongdoing and corruption by China’s political and business elites. Beijing declared Mr. Guo a criminal suspect and requested an Interpol arrest notice against him, while Mr. Guo applied for asylum in the U.S., making him a flashpoint in China-U.S. relations.

Mr. Guo became a target of Mr. Stone’s a few months after launching his campaign, according to the lawsuit. In an interview last month Mr. Guo claimed that Mr. Stone was paid to make the defamatory remarks about him on InfoWars. He said the payment ultimately came from a Chinese-American media tycoon named Bruno Wu, whom Mr. Guo previously accused of being a spy for the Chinese government. Mr. Wu has filed a defamation lawsuit against Mr. Guo for these and other claims…

If, as was speculated in 2017, the campaign against Mr. Guo (aka ‘Miles Kwok’) was related to RNC finance chair Steve Wynn’s dreams of a Wynn casino in Macau… then being under Mueller’s less-than-charitable purview is probably the safest place for Roger Stone, right now. Wynn has been dethroned, Trump is going the same route, but the PRC plays a long game.

Was Stone working with Steve Wynn in some manner? Trying to convince Trump to hand him over to China? Stone wants the money and Wynn needs Guo returned to China to ensure his casinos' licenses are maintained in good order? https://t.co/6jMzBiFqDI

— Dianne (@diannehofstedt) December 18, 2018

Nah, he was ratfucking a Chinese dissident, who's not currently residing in China.

So was the PRC paying Stone? Who knows?

— David j (@David_Jorgonson) December 18, 2018