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In its investigation of the Russian hacking of Democrats, "the government has obtained and executed dozens of search warrants for various accounts, used to facilitate the transfer of stolen documents for publication, as well as to discuss the timing and of promoting their publication, "said the government prosecutors wrote Friday to a federal judge.
"Several of these search warrants were executed on accounts containing Stone's communications with Guccifer 2.0 and with the organization 1", namely WikiLeaks.
Previously, prosecutors had only explained how Stone had tried to contact Julian Assange of WikiLeaks through intermediaries. Stone sought out what the hackers had stolen from the Democratic Party and how he hoped for his release to help Donald Trump's campaign, prosecutors said.
The new repository did not provide more details on the content of the communications.
Prosecutors have not yet fully explained to what extent Stone had actually reached WikiLeaks or Assange, nor lodged a complaint against them for their role in disseminating pirated data.
Friday's filing is the biggest detail ever provided by prosecutors Stone and WikiLeaks were in contact with.
Prosecutors said that when they obtained the accounts, they found communications between Stone and WikiLeaks, which is only described as Organization 1, as well as Guccifer 2.0, the pseudonym used by the Russian intelligence services to broadcast the documents.
Stone and his team of lawyers will have access to these search warrants as they review the evidence presented in preparation for the trial. He pleaded not guilty under charges of falsifying witnesses, obstruction of justice and lying.
The case will not be reassigned
Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied Friday Stone's attempt to call a new judge, alleging that his charges are unrelated to a case of Russian piracy by Democrats. Prosecutors say that they are in fact linked, partly because they are both based on the same search warrants.
Gag order
Jackson has also placed a gag order on Stone and the lawyers involved in his criminal case, although Stone's ability to speak in public is not completely limited.
"Counsel for parties and witnesses must refrain from making statements to the media or in public places likely to cause material injury to the present case," Jackson wrote.
They, their clients and even Stone are also not allowed to speak in and around the courthouse.
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