Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul on Monday slammed WikiLeaks in a series of tweets in which he called for people to stop referring to WikiLeaks as a "news organization."

"They are a foreign agent, supported by Russia, publishing stolen data," McFaul tweeted on Monday.

Can people STOP referring to Wikileaks as a news organization. They are a foreign agent, supported by Russia, publishing stolen data. — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 24, 2016

ADVERTISEMENT

WikiLeaks responded, calling itself an "award winning independent media organization, funded entirely by its readers, book and film sales."

McFaul shot back that the organization publishes "stolen data" and has made clear in the presidential race that it is "overtly partisan."

WikiLeaks in recent weeks has been posting emails which it says are stolen from the archive of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE's campaign chairman, John Podesta.

The messages have been released by WikiLeaks in small batches, with an apparent intention of maximizing their political impact.

Intelligence officials have suggested the hacking of Podesta's account was part of a broad campaign by Russia to influence the presidential election.

McFaul on Monday knocked WikiLeaks in several subsequent tweets. He slammed its claims to be independent and noted the organization has never published stolen data about Russian President Vladimir Putin or Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE.

You have become famous & therefore generate these $s by publishing stolen property. How is that any different from selling stolen cars? https://t.co/NfzHHELjDK — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 24, 2016

You work is also underwritten by Russian intelligence services. That makes your claim to being "independent" suspect. https://t.co/NfzHHELjDK — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 24, 2016

Your claim to being independent would be more credible if you published stolen data about Putin & Trump. You have never done so. https://t.co/NfzHHELjDK — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 24, 2016

Ill admit, I'm afraid to exercise my 1st amendment rights in discussing Wikileaks for fear of cyber attack retribution. Not democratic. https://t.co/NfzHHELjDK — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 24, 2016

You published a cable reporting on a friend of mine recommending that US support Medvedev, not Putin. My friend, Nemtsov, is now dead. https://t.co/NfzHHELjDK — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 24, 2016