Former Trump adviser Roger Stone said in a Fox News interview Friday that the indictment brought against him as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation is “thin” and was really “about silencing” him. But, Stone said, he was prepared for the fight of his life.
“The indictment is thin indeed,” Stone said. “So what is this about? It’s about silencing me. There’s a war on alternative media. There’s a war where they’re trying to criminalize political expression. There’s a war where they’re trying to criminalize free speech.”
Stone’s remarks on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” came after he was taken into custody earlier Friday and indicted on charges of obstruction, making false statements and witness tampering.
He reiterated his previous comments, saying it was his intention “to plead not guilty” and he thinks he “will be vindicated.”
“I’m in for the fight of my life but I will not quit. I will not fold. I will not bend. I will not bear false witness against the president,” Stone said. “I intend to fight because this indictment is fabricated. This indictment is thin as can be.”
At a news conference earlier in the day, Stone vowed to fight back against the allegations, slamming the charges as being “politically motivated,” and insisted he would not turn his back on Trump.
Stone, who was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on Friday morning, told Carlson that he would’ve turned himself in had authorities gotten in touch with his attorney. Video aired by CNN of the arrest showed numerous FBI agents with guns banging on Stone’s door and demanding that he come outside.
Stone said it was “disconcerting” that the network “was aware that I would be arrested before my lawyers were informed.”
“I had no firearm in the house. I don’t have a permit for a firearm. I don’t own a firearm. Only my wife, my two dogs, my three cats were at home. I’m not a flight risk, in fact I think my passport has expired or it will expire in a few days. I have no record of criminal past. And frankly, they just could have contacted my attorney and I would have voluntarily turned myself in,” Stone said. “The proof of this is that only hours later, the judge granted me a $250,000 surety bond, meaning on my signature with no funds put forward because I’m not a flight risk.”
The indictment unsealed Friday does not charge Stone with conspiring with WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website that published emails of Democrats during the 2016 campaign, or with the Russian officers Mueller says hacked them. Instead, it accuses him of lying about his interactions related to WikiLeaks’ release during probes by Congress and Mueller’s team.
The indictment states that during the summer of 2016, Stone spoke to senior Trump campaign officials about WikiLeaks and information it might have had that would be damaging to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
It also said Stone was contacted by senior Trump campaign officials to inquire about future releases, and that Stone continued to communicate with members of the Trump campaign about WikiLeaks.
The 24-page indictment alleged that Stone worked to obstruct the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election by making false statements to the committee, denying he had records sought by the committee and persuading a witness to provide false testimony.
Fox News’ Alex Pappas contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
