Fox News Hosts Stone To Defend Trump, Identifies Him As A “Political Consultant”

Fox Didn't Disclose Stone's Financial Ties To Trump. During the July 20 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade introduced guest Roger Stone as a “political strategist.” On-screen text identified him as a “libertarian political strategist.” Fox News and Stone did not disclose his connections to Trump. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/20/15, via Media Matters; Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/20/15]

Stone: “Trump Is Out Front Because He Is Speaking Hard Truths.” During the segment, Stone strongly defended Trump and his widely-criticized remarks about Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Stone pushed Trump's candidacy for president, claiming he is “out front because he is speaking hard truths.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/20/15, via Media Matters]

Trump's Presidential Committee Has Paid Stone's Company $30,000 In Recent Months

Trump Paid Stone's Firm $30,000. Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. paid Drake Ventures, LLC a total of $30,000 between April 10 and May 31 for “communications consulting,” according to Trump's July Federal Election Commission report.* Drake Ventures LLC is run by Roger Stone, according to records with the Florida Department of State. The New York Times has also referred to Drake Ventures as “Stone's Florida public relations company.” [FEC.gov, accessed 7/20/15; Sunbiz.org, accessed 7/20/15; New York Times, 4/16/10]

WSJ: Stone Is A “Top Strategic Adviser” To Trump 

Wall Street Journal: “Mr. Trump's Top Strategic Advisers Include Longtime Political Aide Roger Stone, Who Ran His 2000 Presidential Exploratory Campaign.” [Wall Street Journal, 7/19/15]

New York Post In 2005 Described Stone As Trump's “Top Political Adviser.” The New York Post described Stone as “Trump's top political adviser.” [New York Post, 12/31/05]

Stone Worked As A Lobbyist For Trump

Stone Said He Spent “25 Years As A Lobbyist For Trump.” Stone wrote on his website in 2011: “I'm a Trump cheerleader. After 25 years as a lobbyist for Trump and Chairman of his 2000 Presidential Exploratory Committee, I like the man.” [StoneZone.com, 4/19/11]

Stone And Trump Paid Fines For Lobbyist Work. The New York Times reported in 2000 that Trump and associates including Stone “agreed to pay $250,000 in fines and to issue a public apology because they failed to disclose to the state lobbying commission that he had secretly financed newspaper advertisements opposing casino gambling in the Catskills”:

According to several people who have seen the terms of the tentative settlement, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts would pay $50,000; Mr. Trump's lobbyist, Roger Stone, would pay $100,000; and the institute would pay $100,000.

[...]

But the commission contended that Mr. Trump also should have indicated in his lobbying reports that he had spent another $150,000 on the newspaper ads. Mr. Trump gave the money to Mr. Stone, who created and placed the ads, which criticized Gov. George E. Pataki and highlighted the criminal history of some members of the St. Regis Mohawk tribe. [New York Times, 10/6/00]

Stone Has A Long History Of Political Smears

Stone Established Anti-Hillary Clinton Group C.U.N.T., Pushed Smears Against Obamas. Stone is a professional dirty trickster who once formed an anti-Hillary Clinton group with the acronym “C.U.N.T.” after he tried “to come up with words for B.I.T.C.H. and just couldn't do it.” He's also endorsed birther smears against President Obama and the smear that Michelle Obama is on tape calling white people “whiteys.” [Media Matters, 6/5/14]

*Payment dates in FEC report corrected.