Former Trump adviser says McCain is ‘mentally ill’ and should step down
Jul 18, 2017, 8:03 PM | Updated: Mar 1, 2018, 3:59 pm
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
PHOENIX — A former adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, claimed in an exclusive interview with KTAR that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is mentally ill.
Stone’s remarks about the Senator were among a litany of comments he made in an interview on Reality Check with Darin Damme on KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday night, including strong criticisms against the media.
“Unfortunately, I must conclude, the man is mentally ill,” Stone said. “He’s quite unbalanced, he’s driven by a combination of bitterness and jealousy. His actions in taking a dossier that he knew to be false, giving it to the FBI in attempt to smear the President of the United States is beyond contempt.
“He’s a nutcase.”
Stone, who is a conservative political adviser, was set to testify in front of the House Intelligence Committee on July 24, regarding allegations that the Trump team may have colluded with Russia. Instead, that testimony was delayed after Stone — coincidentally — made insults toward members of the committee in a New York radio interview, according to Bloomberg.
Stone made insults again on Tuesday, this time at McCain and members of the media.
Claiming that he has known Sen. McCain since the Nixon era, Stone said that McCain had called upon Stone to come before the Senate and explain his connection with the Russians and former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych.
“Hey senator dummy, this is simple,” Stone said. “I have no connection whatsoever to the Russians, I’ve never been to Russia, I have no Russian clients. I have no connections whatsoever to former President Yanukovych, who I wouldn’t know if he walked up and punched me.”
He also alleged that Sen. McCain took money from the Saudis. Bloomberg reported last year that Saudi Arabia made a $1 million donation to the McCain Institute for International Leadership. The institute’s website lists the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia as a donor.
“[McCain]’s in bed with terrorists,” Stone continued. “He has used his position in the Senate to smear our President. Frankly, it’s time for Attorney General [Jeff] Sessions to appoint a special prosecutor to examine the treasonous activities of John McCain. No person is above the law. I don’t care if you’re a U.S. Senator, that doesn’t impress me.
“You’re a U.S. citizen, you’re irresponsible, you’re mentally unbalanced, you’re a nut job, you can’t take criticism. The man needs to step down.”
Stone’s comments may not come as a complete shock to those who are familiar with his name; a story in the New York Times earlier this year called Stone a “full-time provocateur.” That same story described the reason for Stone’s departure from the Trump campaign: “Mr. Stone said he decided to leave; Mr. Trump maintained that he fired him.”
Just before the interview ended — by which point Damme and Stone had discussed a myriad of other topics — Stone made a point to comment on McCain one last time, signaling that he intended to take as many jabs as he could.
“He’s not a hero, he’s a traitor. It’s very sad.”
KTAR News reached out to Sen. John McCain for comment.
