WASHINGTON — Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty in Washington, D.C. federal court on Tuesday morning.
Stone was arraigned on seven charges:
- One count of obstruction of an official proceeding
- Five counts of making false statements
- One count of witness tampering
Stone was uncharacteristically quiet during Tuesday's brief court appearance, rising to his feet to say, "Yes, Your Honor," as U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson asked if he would agree to the conditions of his release, including restricted travel.
Stone's attorney, Robert Buschel, entered the plea on his client's behalf.
The 66-year-old Stone made no public statements as he arrived and departed the courthouse amid dueling chants of "Lock Him Up" and "We Love Roger." Stone waved and smiled to the small crowd, some holding up glowing photos of him, and he largely ignored a group of protesters carrying signs reading "Dirty traitor."
The FBI arrested Stone on Jan. 25 in a pre-dawn raid at his Fort Lauderdale home, as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
"I'm falsely accused of lying under Congress, which I did not do," Stone told reporters on Monday as he left his home to travel to D.C. "I am 66 years old. I do not own a gun. I do not have a valid passport. I have no prior criminal record. I'm charged with non violent processed crimes. To storm my house with greater force than was used to take down Bin Laden or El Chapo or Pablo Escobar, to terrorize my wife and my dogs, it's unconscionable."
Last Friday, a judge granted Stone a $250,000 bond, and ordered him to only travel within South Florida, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
WATCH: Video shows raid at Stone's South Florida home
"I will plead not guilty to these charges, I will defeat them in court," Stone said at a news conference on Friday. "I believe this is a politically-motivated investigation. I am troubled by the political motivations of the prosecutors."
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The President tweeted about the arrest, calling it the "Greatest Witch Hunt in the History of our Country!"
Greatest Witch Hunt in the History of our Country! NO COLLUSION! Border Coyotes, Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers are treated better. Who alerted CNN to be there?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2019
The seven-count indictment against Stone is the first criminal case in months from Special Counsel Mueller.
It provides the most detail to date about how Trump campaign associates in the summer of 2016 actively sought the disclosure of emails the U.S. says were hacked by Russia and then provided to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
It alleges that an unidentified senior Trump campaign official was "directed" to keep in contact with Stone about when stolen emails relating to Clinton might be disclosed.
Stone is the sixth Trump aide or adviser charged by Mueller and the 34th person overall.
