GOP strategist Roger Stone said he's "highly confident" newly appointed special counsel Robert Mueller will not only "clear the air," but will "find absolutely nothing" proving collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
In an interview with Newsmax TV's Steve Malzberg on Friday, Stone, author of "The Making of the President 2016," said he's an enthusiastic supporter of Mueller's appointment.
"I actually think it's an excellent way to clear the air," he said. "I'm highly confident that Mr. Mueller will find absolutely nothing in his efforts to prove what the Democrats have claimed, without any evidence . . . that the Russian state somehow assisted in the election of Donald Trump."
Stone said he also believed he's been "under government surveillance" since last June, but emphasized, "I know what's in my own [digital and phone] traffic. There is no contact with any Russians or representatives for the Russians because this didn't happen."
"As the president has said repeatedly, it's a fairy tale and I think that's going to be proven," he added.
Stone also believed congressional hearings on Russian influence will wind up empty-handed as well.
"I think the congressional investigation into alleged Russian collusion will run out of steam relatively quickly and I expect the president and his campaign to be completely exonerated," he said.
"More troubling to me having lived through Watergate is the deep state coup that seems to be going on before our very eyes," he added, referring to Obama administration loyalists.