Former Trump aide pushing a Rubio-Kasich conspiracy theory

One of Donald Trump's former top aides says he plans to use money donated to the Committee to Restore America's Greatness super PAC to "finance a hard-hitting television and radio campaign" that will accuse Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, of striking a "secret deal" with one of his rivals to weaken Trump's candidacy for the White House.

Roger Stone, a conservative operative who left Trump's campaign in August, appears to have posted a letter on the super PAC's website on Thursday that accuses Rubio of forging a "secret alliance" with Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) to destroy Trump. Stone alleges that Rubio's "well-heeled backers will funnel millions to Kasich," who will then mount a "massive multi-million dollar paid television attack on Donald Trump in the early primary states." In exchange for attacking Trump, Stone claims that Rubio has promised to make Kasich his vice president.

"We are calling on average Americans and everyday citizens to help us finance a hard-hitting television and radio campaign exposing the real Marco Rubio, and his secret deal with would-be vice-president John Kasich," Stone writes in the letter, encouraging Trump's supporters to contribute "$20, $30, $50, $100, or more" through the super PAC's website, snail mail or over the phone by calling a California phone number and leaving a voice message.

When asked to respond to the accusation, a spokesman for Kasich said in a statement that this PAC "only seeks to enrich someone Trump fired."

"He hopes that saying outrageous things gets attention to raise some money," said Rob Nichols, the spokesman. "It's pathetic but completely characteristic of who's doing it."

Stone, who says he left the campaign on his own and was not fired, has yet to respond to requests for comment. Rubio's campaign has yet to respond to Stone's accusations.

Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, called the super PAC a "big-league scam deal" and accused Stone of trying to profit off Trump's candidacy. Lewandowski said he has not talked to Stone since he fired him this summer and does not understand why Stone continues to promote the super PAC after repeated requests to stop.

The super PAC was first registered as Americans for Trump PAC on Oct. 17 and changed its name to Committee to Restore America's Greatness three days later. Stone is not identified in the super PAC's Federal Election Commission paperwork and the treasurer is listed as a Tom Fay of Laguna Beach, California.

On Oct. 23, Trump's campaign filed a letter with the FEC stating that the Committee to Restore America's Greatness and seven other super PACs were using Trump's name, image or slogan without authorization, which could confuse Trump's supporters. These actions came after The Washington Post reported that an operative running a pro-Trump super PAC called Make America Great Again had close ties to Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. In response, Make America Great Again shut down and Trump called on all super PACs raising money in his name to refund their contributions. Since then, the campaign has taken similar action against other super PACs.

"I am self-funding my campaign and therefore I will not be controlled by the donors, special interests and lobbyists who have corrupted our politics and politicians for far too long," Trump said at the time. "I have disavowed all Super PAC's, requested the return of all donations made to said PAC's, and I am calling on all presidential candidates to do the same."

Lewandowski said the campaign sent another letter to the Committee to Restore America's Greatness on Thursday and plans to file another complaint with the Federal Election Commission.

Stone writes on the super PAC's website -- as was first noted by the Wall Street Journal -- that while Trump needs to "run a campaign of ideas" and use his campaign funds to explain his vision for the country, there's a need to match the attack ads against Trump and educate voters on "the real Marco Rubio, his liberal voting record and limited experience." Stone writes that the super PAC "will not accept any corporate contributions from those trying to buy influence," and Stone told the Wall Street Journal the super PAC will be funded by "small contributions from average people." A contribution page on the group's website suggests donations ranging from $20 to $500, along with this option: "Or you can enter any amount!"

Stone is frequently on cable news and is prolific on Twitter, sometimes offering fashion tips amid streams of speculation. Stone's personal web page features a six-minute reel of his 2015 television appearances that begins with several James-Bond-style photos of himself, including one in which he wears a white suit with a black bow tie and red carnation while holding a small handgun. Stone has written several books detailing some of his more elaborate conspiracy theories, including that Lyndon B. Johnson was a driving force in the murder of President John F. Kennedy. Stone published a book about the Clintons in October that alleges, among other things, that Chelsea Clinton is not Bill Clinton's daughter.

Stone has passionately supported and defended Trump, while skewering many of his rivals. Earlier this week, Stone tweeted: "That voice ! If @CarlyFiorina was my wife- i'd kill myself (hash)screechy (hash)shrill (hash)ugh (hash)CNNDebate."

The super PAC's website is highly simplistic and riddled with typos. Its homepage features photos of Trump and Rubio beneath this headline: "THE WASHINGTON DC INSIDERS, SPECIAL INTERESTS, LOBBYISTS AND A HANDFUL OF SELF INTERESTED BILLIONAIRES PLAN AN ALL-OUT PAID MEDIA ASSAULT TO DESTROY THE CANDIDACY OF DONALD TRUMP. WILL YOU HELP US STOP THEM?"

The site states that the "Republican establishment, the billionaires, the hedge fund managers, and the Wall Street interests" have abandoned former Florida governor Jeb Bush as their chosen nominee in favor of Rubio, who is described as "a wheel-dealer, who has played ball with the Obama administration on numerous issues such as immigration and trade." The site also features a "full letter" from Stone that details his background working on presidential campaigns and 37-year friendship with Trump.

"My knowledge of the presidential nominating process and my sources within the Republican Party are second to none," Stone writes.

Stone writes that the "Republican establishment is desperate to stop Trump" and will strike soon, warning in bold italics: "There is even talk of a Brokered Convention in which Party bosses would rig the rules to deny Donald Trump the Presidential nomination even if he arrives at the convention with more committed delegates than any other candidate."

The letter then details Rubio's record in the U.S. Senate, criticizes his campaign slogan, spreads a rumor that Mitt Romney might endorse Rubio and asks if the senator will "simply be a boy-toy for the billionaires." Stone then details what Trump would do as president, often in bold text, and notes that "Trump's call to make America great again has had enormous resonance with the voters." Stone asks for donations to fight attacks on Trump by Kasich and others, vowing to "begin contacting cable TV and radio stations in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina and making reservations for hard hitting ads exposing the myth of Marco Rubio within days."

The letter is signed by Stone -- who then adds a "P.S." that reiterates the need to act to overcome the "secret deal" and a "PPS" noting that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) might soon be a threat, accusing the governor of having a "pro-Islamic Extremist record."

"That's why it (sic.) so critical that you send your maximum contribution today!" the final line of the PPS says. "We will be ready to flood the radio and TV airways with the truth about Christie and Rubio!"

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The Washington Post's Matea Gold contributed to this report.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 7:38 AM with the headline "Former Trump aide pushing a Rubio-Kasich conspiracy theory."