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Roger Stone Takes Defiant, Pro-Trump Stance Immediately After Being Released

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The FBI arrested Roger Stone on Friday with a series of maneuvers worthy of a “CSI: Miami” episode.

According to The New York Times, “agents arrested Mr. Stone before dawn, appearing at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla., home with ballistic vests and guns drawn. Agents typically use those tactics as a precaution to secure possible evidence and protect themselves in case a suspect fights arrest.”

This man was apparently such a risk to fight arrest that he was released later that afternoon after being charged with seven counts of obstruction, making false statements and witness tampering. After the arrest, Stone remained defiant, making a statement in front of the courthouse saying that he wouldn’t be testifying against the president and that the charges were false.

“After a two-year inquisition, the charges today relate in no way to Russian collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other illegal act in connection with the 2016 campaign,” Stone said. “I am falsely accused of making false statements during my testimony to the House Intelligence Committee. That is incorrect.”

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Stone also criticized how FBI agents conducted themselves during the arrest.

“This morning at the crack of dawn, 29 FBI agents arrived at my home with 17 vehicles with their lights flashing, when they could simply have contacted my attorneys and I would have been more than willing to surrender voluntarily,” he said.

“They terrorized my wife, my dogs. I was taken to the FBI facility, although I must say the FBI agents were extraordinarily courteous.”

Do you think Roger Stone is being pursued for political reasons?

Stone made it clear he’d be fighting the case..

“I will plead not guilty to these charges. I will defeat them in court,” Stone said, adding, “I believe this is a politically motivated investigation.

“I am troubled by the political motivations of the prosecutors, and as I have said previously, there is no circumstance whatsoever under which I will bear false witness against the president nor will I make up lies to ease the pressure on myself. I look forward to being fully and completely vindicated.”

Asked whether he would cooperate with the special counsel’s office, Stone seemed to indicate this was a negative.

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“Since I was not contacted prior to the charges today, my lawyers have not talked to the special prosecutors,” Stone said. “I don’t want to address that question, but I have made it clear I will not testify against the president. Because I would have to bear false witness against him.”

Stone also said that “I intend to tell the truth. I have told the truth throughout this entire proceeding, and I will prove that in a court of law.”

He would also deny that anyone in the campaign told him to contact WikiLeaks.

Stone will almost certainly be the biggest test for the special counsel thus far. The indictment alleges emails and text messages that seem to indicate Stone had some knowledge of future WikiLeaks document releases, although any evidence that he colluded with them or Russia seemed to be absent. The charges instead had to do with his testimony and attempting to influence the testimony of others. As for chances of turning, one doesn’t see Stone as a potential Michael Cohen, although stranger things have happened. This won’t be a quick win for Mueller or for the left.

In short, this seems to be the first time that the special counsel will be in the courtroom over offenses that specifically have to do with statements made specifically in regards to the 2016 campaign and WikiLeaks. And, if Stone’s statement outside the courtroom was any indication, what a test it’ll be.

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C. Douglas Golden is a writer who splits his time between the United States and Southeast Asia. Specializing in political commentary and world affairs, he's written for Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014.
C. Douglas Golden is a writer who splits his time between the United States and Southeast Asia. Specializing in political commentary and world affairs, he's written for Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014. Aside from politics, he enjoys spending time with his wife, literature (especially British comic novels and modern Japanese lit), indie rock, coffee, Formula One and football (of both American and world varieties).
Birthplace
Morristown, New Jersey
Education
Catholic University of America
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Topics of Expertise
American Politics, World Politics, Culture




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