‘Trickster’ on Trump’s side under FBI scrutiny
In President Donald Trump’s oft-changing world order, Roger Stone, the onetime political consultant and full-time provocateur, has been seen as one of the few constants — a loyalist and self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” who nurtured the dream of a presidential run by the developer-turned-television-for 30 years.
But two months into the Trump presidency, Mr. Stone, known for his pinstripe suits, the Nixon tattoo spanning his shoulder blades, and decades of outlandish statements, is under investigation for what would be his dirtiest trick — colluding with the Russians to defeat Hillary Clinton and put his friend in the White House.
At a hearing of the House Intelligence Committee Monday, Democrats pressed James Comey, director of the FBI, for information on Mr. Stone. Asked by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., if he was familiar with Mr. Stone, Mr. Comey replied tersely, “Generally, yes,” before saying he could not discuss any specific person.
Mr. Stone, 64, is the best known of the Trump associates under scrutiny as part of an FBI investigation into Russian interference in the election. John Podesta, the Clinton campaign chairman whose hacked emails were released by WikiLeaks, accused him in October of having advance warning of the hacks, which the intelligence community has concluded were orchestrated by Russia. “Trust me, it will soon bee Podesta’s time in the barrel,” Mr. Stone had mused on Twitter before Mr. Podesta’s emails were released.
When Mr. Schiff asked Mr. Comey at the House hearing how Mr. Stone could have known that Mr. Podesta’s emails were going to be released, the FBI director replied, “That’s not something I can comment on.”
Mr. Stone has denied advance knowledge of the hacks or any involvement with the Russians.
Before the Podesta emails were released, Mr. Stone said in a speech that he had “communicated with” Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder — whom he has defended for years — and that he had a large trove of material on the Clintons that he would publish before the election. He has acknowledged having communicated over Twitter with the online persona Guccifer 2.0, who U.S. officials believe is a front for Russian intelligence officials. And there was the Podesta tweet.
Now under scrutiny by both FBI and Senate investigators, Mr. Stone has hired two lawyers to represent him. But in an interview, Mr. Stone maintained that this was “a scandal with no evidence.”
Few people go as far back with Mr. Trump as Mr. Stone, but he left the campaign in 2016 over what Mr. Stone said was a fight about its direction. He said he decided to leave; Mr. Trump maintained that he fired him.