Roger Stone sold himself to the Trump campaign as a WikiLeaks pipeline. Was it?

Mr. Stone stated that he only pressured Mr. Credico to tell the truth. "I did not exhort him to plead the fifth, I urged him not to testify. He made these decisions himself, "he said. He added that Mr. Credico was "furious" because he identified him with the House committee as his WikiLeaks source rather than protecting him.

At various times, Mr. Stone also suggested that he had collected information on WikiLeaks from Jerome Corsi, a conservative journalist specializing in conspiracy theories. A lawyer for Mr. Corsi, who was also summoned to appear before the grand jury, did not respond to a message asking for comments. Andrew Miller, another former assistant to Mr. Stone, has also been ordered to testify and is fighting the subpoena.

Mr. Mueller's investigators also explored the activities of Mr. Stone's political organizations. Mr Stone said the investigators were examining a non-profit educational fund called the Committee for the Education Fund for American Sovereignty, which allegedly produced a film alleging that former President Bill Clinton would have had a illegitimate child, a favorite theme of Mr. Stone.

The organization stands as a nonprofit social welfare organization designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) (4) group. But there is no indication in I.R.S. records that he has this status.

In his email to Mr. Bannon, sent by Mr. Stone on October 4, 2016, prosecutors may be interested in the fund. Asking the campaign to promote his theory of an illegitimate son of Mr. Clinton, he wrote: "I raised $ 150,000 for the targeted digital campaign with the help of blacks through a C-4," he said. he writes.

"Tell Rebecca to send us $$$," said Stone, apparently referring to Rebekah Mercer, a wealthy Republican donor close to Bannon. There is no indication that Mr. Bannon responded or sought Ms. Mercer, and it is unclear whether Mr. Stone's solicitation alone contravened federal election laws. Mr Stone said that he was referring to a campaign targeting African-American voters.

Several advisers linked to another organization founded by Mr. Stone, the Committee for the Restoration of America's Greatness, were questioned before the grand jury in Washington – both about donations to the PAC and the how the group's money has been dispersed, according to people close to the talks.