The suicide mystery

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation is scrutinizing how a collection of activists and pundits intersected with WikiLeaks, the website that U.S. officials say was the primary conduit for publishing materials stolen by Russia, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Mueller’s team has recently questioned witnesses about the activities of longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone, including his contacts with WikiLeaks, and has obtained telephone records, according to the people familiar with the matter.

Investigators also have evidence that the late GOP activist Peter W. Smith may have had advance knowledge of details about the release of emails from a top Hillary Clinton campaign official by WikiLeaks, one person familiar with the matter said. They have questioned Mr. Smith’s associates, the person said.

Right-wing pundit Jerome Corsi was also questioned by investigators about his interactions with Mr. Stone and WikiLeaks before a grand jury in September, according to a person familiar with the matter. Mr. Corsi declined to comment. A lawyer for Mr. Stone said he hasn’t been contacted by the special counsel. Mr. Smith died last year.

Mr. Mueller’s office declined to comment.

Peter Smith, who is now dead, sought and collected donations from four people as part of a plan to obtain Clinton’s stolen emails from hackers just weeks from the election, the Wall Street Journal reported. The FBI is investigating the fundraising campaign as part of it's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Smith died in May 2017, days after talking to the Journal about his efforts. An autopsy report says Smith committed suicide in a Minnesota hotel room and police said they found a suicide note that reportedly read, "NO FOUL PLAY WHATSOEVER