Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman says the FBI is investigating Russia’s possible role in hacking his emails, a role that is being denied by a top Russian government official.

After thousands of John Podesta’s personal emails were hacked, WikiLeaks began releasing them on Friday.

Podesta told reporters Tuesday he is helping investigators find the hackers and added “it was not any coincidence” his emails were disclosed shortly after a video tape of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump making vulgar remarks about women was released.

Podesta alleged that longtime Trump advisor Roger Stone had “advance knowledge” of the leaks. Stone has admitted he has been in contact with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Stone also tweeted in August that WikiLeaks would attack Clinton and Podesta, one of the presidential hopeful’s most experienced and trusted advisors.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has denied Russia’s involvement in the leaks. In an interview with CNN in Moscow, Lavrov dismissed the claims as “ridiculous” and added, “It’s flattering, of course, to get this kind of attention.”[xyz-ihs snippet=”adsense-body-ad”]Podesta said the investigation is part of a wider FBI probe into the hacking of Democratic Party emails in which Russia is suspected.

Podesta added Russia may be trying to influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential election to favor Donald Trump, who has said he admires the strength of President Vladimir Putin compared to what he sees as weak leaders in Washington.

Clinton corruption charges

Trump took the opportunity to focus on the hacked emails at a campaign rally Tuesday night in Florida. He alleged the emails show that “Clinton is the vessel (of) a corrupt global establishment that’s raiding our country and surrounding the sovereignty of our nation.”

The Clinton campaign would not confirm the authenticity of Podesta’s emails, adding that Russian hackers often falsify documents.

Other leaked emails from the Democratic Party have embarrassed the Clinton campaign. They include allegations that campaign officials tried to discredit former Democratic presidential rival Bernie Sanders and suggestions the campaign should laugh-off the controversy surrounding Clinton’s State Department emails.

Source: VOA

  corruption, elections, email, hack, john podesta, release, trump