Longtime ally and political mentor Roger Stone has been indicted on seven counts of illegal activity, including the felonies of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and making false statements to investigating officials, according to Politico.
NPR repoorts that Stone was arrested shortly after the counts were filed, and is scheduled for an appearance at the Fort Lauderdale, FL federal courthouse at 11 AM.
Stone had spent years as a political advisor to Donald Trump before officially parting ways with him shortly before the initiation of Trump’s Presidential run. He then migrated to CNN, where he became a frequent guest who was an unabashed promoter of the President. His actions at the time led some to question whether CNN had an unofficial member of the Trump campaign staff on their payroll.
If Mueller’s indictments bear out, that suspicion will have been accurate. The accusations illustrate a man who was deeply involved with not merely the Trump organization but was also taking orders to act on its behalf.
Some legal experts and political operatives are already poring through the indictments, leading to further questions. An example, from Laurence Tribe:
President Trump has indicated that he believed this, or something like it, has been in motion. Just as he has tweeted about Michael Cohen, he has also tweeted in recent months about Roger Stone.
He was convinced, for years, of Cohen’s loyalty. Time will show whether his confidence in Stone was more valid.
Update:
After Stone was arrested in the early morning hours he appeared in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, courtroom for what CNN reported was a identity hearing to “confirm he” was “Roger Stone.” He was released on a $250,000 signature bond. CNN explains this means Stone doesn’t have to “put any money on the bond,” as long as he keeps appear at his court hearing when he is required.
On the courthouse steps to chants of “lock him up,” Stone explained his intention to plead not guilty to the charges, he has no plans to “bare false witness,” against the President. In the posted clip toward the end of his speech someone yells, “We got your back Roger.”
The President weighed in on Stone’s arrested via Twitter.
Wikileaks aka Org. 1 issued a statement on Twitter.
CNN captured the morning arrest of Stone which led to Twitter theorists speculating that the FBI tipped off CNN to be present for the arrest. CNN gives a detail account as to how they ended up outside Stone’s home, calling it a “product of good instincts, some key clues, more than a year of observing comings at the DC federal courthouse and the special counsel’s office — and a little luck on the timing.”
Friend of Stone Jerome Corsi issued a statement that confirmed he was “person 1” from the indictment.
JUST IN: Jerome Corsi’s lawyers acknowledge that Corsi is “Person 1” in the Roger Stone indictment. They say he “fully cooperated with the Special Counsel” and “is not being accused of any illegality.” pic.twitter.com/aNfUP4E5Nw
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 25, 2019
Stone also phoned Alex Jones of Info Wars to discuss his indictment and arrest.
This is a developing story and more will follow.
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