Roger Stone says he'll "honestly testify" when asked if he plans to cooperate with Mueller

Elise Viebeck

Business and Research Journalist focused on politics

January 27

Roger Stone stated that he would "honestly testify" when asked if he was considering cooperating with Special Advocate Robert S. Mueller III after he had been charged with lie, obstruction and falsification of witnesses in the investigation of the interference of Russia in the 2016 election.

"This is a question I will have to solve after my lawyers have discussed," Republican TV and President Trump's friend told reporters on Sunday. "There was wrongdoing in the campaign that I did not know – of which I do not know anyone – but if there were, I would certainly testify in all honesty."

Stone added that he "would honestly testify on any other matter, including any communication with the president", but he stated that their discussions were "political in nature" and denied "categorically" to have talked about Russia or from the Mueller inquiry during or after the meeting. 2016 campaign.

"I have never discussed these issues with the President and all that I have done. . . is freedom of expression protected by the Constitution. That's what I hired – it's politics, "he said.

[Trump’s night-owl calls to Roger Stone in 2016 draw scrutiny in Mueller probe]

The indictment, which included seven counts, did not claim that Stone had participated in a conspiracy.

Mueller unveiled the charges against Stone on Friday, accusing him of seeking information about pirated emails from the Democratic Party under the leadership of a senior Unidentified Trump campaigner and striving to keep his secret efforts.

Stone, who was arrested Friday at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said after he was released on bail that he would not be testifying against Trump "because I would have to give false testimony".

"There is no circumstance in which I will bear false testimony against the president, nor will I lie to ease the pressure on myself," he said in court.

On Sunday, Stone said that he was "aware" of Mueller's ability to get people to say things that are not true, particularly people who claim a reduced sentence or people who have chopped."

A spokesman for the special council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Stone made similar remarks about Mueller in the past.

"The special council addresses all aspects of my social, family, professional, political and political life, seeking something – no matter what – that he can use to put pressure on me, to silence me and to urge me to testify against my friend Donald Trump, "Stone said in a fundraising appeal recorded on video in the fall of 2018.

"I will not do it. When I say that I'm not going to hurt the president, I mean, I will not have to make lies to make him fall, "Stone said.

[Special counsel examines conflicting accounts as scrutiny of Roger Stone and WikiLeaks deepens]

Trump Saturday night seemed to distance himself from Stone, tweeting: "Roger Stone did not even work for me near the election!"

"What about the" Fake and Unverified File ", a total craze that was paid by Crooked Hillary for damaging me as well as the Trump campaign?" tweeted.

FBI's attack on Stone's home before dawn and arrest ended one of the longest investigations in Mueller's investigation.

Since Friday, Stone has launched a series of media interviews, an unusual approach for an accused.

When asked what he hoped to win, Stone said he wanted to draw attention to what he saw as the inappropriate manner in which his arrest had taken place.

"It was a costly show of force to try to describe me as the number one public enemy, the GO, to try to poison the jury," said Stone, using a slang expression that means "original gangster".

"These are Gestapo tactics," he said.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) Later told ABC that Stone had used typical arguments from a person accused of white-collar crime.