Friday morning, the FBI arrested former Trump political adviser Roger Stone on seven charges that include witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and providing false testimony.
According to CNN reporters stationed outside Stone’s Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. home:
“A number of law enforcement vehicles with silent sirens flashing pulled in front of Stone’s home on a darkened Fort Lauderdale street just after 6 am. Friday morning. About a dozen officers with heavy weapons and tactical vests fanned out across Stone’s lawn. Law enforcement shined a flashlight into Stone’s front door before one officer rapped against it, shouting, ‘FBI. Open the door.’ Seconds later, the agent shouted, ‘FBI. Warrant.’
“A floor light turned on and moments later, Stone appeared in the front entryway. He confirmed who he was to law enforcement.”
Stone’s indictment states he lied to lawmakers about his communication with Wikileaks and Russian hackers responsible for stealing documents from the Democratic National Committee in 2016, for which 12 Russian military officials were indicted.
During a South Florida GOP forum in August 2016, Stone admitted communicating with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange:
“I actually have communicated with Assange. I believe the next tranche of his documents pertain to the Clinton Foundation, but there’s no telling what the October surprise may be.”
10 days later on C-SPAN, Stone hailed Assange a “hero” and suggested Assange “could theoretically drop a tranche of documents” before each of the Clinton-Trump presidential debates, adding, “These are like the Watergate tapes.”
Stone has been a consistent person of interest in special council Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election that has produced no fewer than 33 indictments of individuals and three companies, and several guilty pleas.
The indictment also accuses Stone of intimidation of radio personality Randy Credico.
Stone is due to be arraigned 11 a.m. today in Ft. Lauderdale.
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