Backer of effort to pull Britain from EU blasts ‘witch hunt’
LONDON — A millionaire backer of the successful campaign to pull Britain out of the European Union lashed out Tuesday at lawmakers investigating what he called fake news surrounding the Brexit referendum.
Testifying before a Parliament committee, Arron Banks said he was being targeted in a witch hunt by politicians and journalists who favored remaining in the 28-nation bloc. The insurance executive also rejected the notion that he had dealings with the Kremlin, though he did acknowledge socializing with the Russian ambassador.
“I’d like to think I’m an evil genius with a white cat that kind of controls the whole of western democracy, but clearly that’s nonsense” he said, before suggesting the media committee had its own motivations. “You have a vested interest in trying to discredit the Brexit campaign.”