Trump's friend Roger Stone pleads not guilty to charges in Mueller investigation.

5years ago

Trump's most loyal supporters, Roger Stone pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges in the Russia investigation after a publicity-filled few days spent torching the probe as politically motivated.

Stone, 66, has been under investigation for more than two-and-a-half years over accusations he was working with WikiLeaks to release stolen Democratic emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s 2016 White House campaign.

Mueller’s prosecutors last week ultimately brought charges against Stone that center around him misleading lawmakers about his efforts to communicate with Trump campaign officials and WikiLeaks. He’s also been charged with attempting to intimidate Randy Credico, another witness in the Mueller probe who was in touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2016.

Stone made no public statements as he arrived for the hearing in a black SUV. He waved to a small crowd of supporters chanting that he did nothing wrong and holding up glowing photos of him. And he largely ignored a group of protesters yelling “Lock him up” and carrying signs reading “dirty traitor.”

Stone's next appearance in court will be Friday before District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is handling several of the major Mueller cases, including the guilty plea of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Stone agreed to the same restrictions he accepted last week in Fort Lauderdale federal court when he was released on a $250,000 personal surety bond. He isn’t allowed to travel outside of court districts in New York, South Florida and the Washington D.C. area. He can’t have a U.S. passport and must call a D.C. pretrial agent once a week.

A prosecutor in Mueller's office said the case will be prosecuted by the special counsel's team and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.