A former senior adviser to Donald Trump's bid for the White House has launched a super PAC to attack the real estate mogul's top opponents. Roger Stone, a political operative and former aide to the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations, set his focus on Marco Rubio in an email appealing to "average Americans" for donations.
"It is vital that voters know about the real Marco Rubio, his liberal voting record and limited experience," Stone wrote in the email, according to CNN. "Marco Rubio intends to present himself to the voters of New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, as another Ronald Reagan. In fact, he is a wheeler-dealer who has played ball with the Obama administration on numerous issues such as immigration and trade. That's why we've formed the Committee to Restore America's Greatness."
However, Trump has regularly spoken out against super PACs, and the campaign appears to have not only separated itself from the super PAC as required by law, but disavowed it altogether. Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, calling it a “big-league scam deal," according to The Wall Street Journal. "This is someone trying to profit off of Mr. Trump’s success and enrich themselves personally,” said Lewandowski, adding that the last time he had contact with Stone was “when I fired him in August."
Stone has routinely denied being fired, saying that he left the campaign in August because of Trump's diversions.
Sorry @realDonaldTrump didn't fire me- I fired Trump. Diasagree with diversion to food fight with @megynkelly away core issue messages
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) August 8, 2015
Stone said in his resignation letter to Trump that the candidate's message was reminiscient of the Regan era.
“I was proud to have played a role in the launch of your presidential campaign," Stoen wrote, New York Magazine reported. "Your message of ‘Make America Great Again’ harkened back to the Reagan era. Restoring national pride and bringing jobs back to America - your initial and still underlying message - is a solid conservative message. In fact, it catapulted you instantly into a commanding lead in the race."
However, Stone noted that with the distractions over the controversies that Trump has pursued, he couldn't continue in his role.
“Unfortunately, the current controversies involving personalities and provocative media fights have reached such a high volume that it has distracted attention from your platform and overwhelmed your core message," he said. "With this current direction of the candidacy, I no longer can remain involved in your campaign.”
The Trump campaign paid Stone's firm, Drake Ventures, $30,000 over the course of six weeks earlier this year, according to Federal Election Commission filings, National Review reported.
