Just after 6 a.m. Friday morning, FBI agents knocked on former Trump associate Roger Stone’s front door in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and shouted “FBI, warrant!” according to footage of the pre-dawn arrest CNN obtained exclusively.
Stone answered the door wearing his glasses and sleepwear and appeared to have been asleep before the agents approached, according to CNN reporter David Shortell, who was on the scene for the arrest. Stone confirmed his identity to agents and removed his glasses before he was taken into custody.
Shortell described the scene as “friendly,” despite the agents attire of tactical vests and heavy weaponry.
“As you know sometimes these warrants, these arrests, these middle of the night operations like this don’t always go smoothly, this went very smoothly,” Shortell said on CNN’s “New Day” Friday morning. “The FBI agents fanned out across this lawn silently before they shined that flashlight in and first started shouting, ‘FBI, open the door!’ Roger Stone appeared to surrender without any issue.”
Stone was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller on Friday and is accused of obstructing an official proceeding, making false statements and witness tampering.
Watch CNN’s footage of the arrest below:
WATCH: FBI approaches Stone's home in Fort Lauderdale to arrest him pic.twitter.com/HgCGbqQ6Jl
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) January 25, 2019
Wow, lots to mull here. How the hell does a camera crew tag along on an arrest in an investigation headed by a cards close to the vest, taciturn prosecutor that for over a year has assiduously avoided anything remotely resembling a press stunt, to this point. WTF? This seems tailor made to inflame every rabble-rousing Wingnut to the right of Ben Sasse. What purpose was served here?*
*After reading some stories it appears CNN, or someone working for them, was staking out Stone’s home, probably 24/7, in anticipation of this. So, no Mueller stunt. Thankfully.
Roger’s comment upon opening the door: Hey, I thought you guys were furloughed!?
I’ll see your warrant and raise you a pardon.
Hmmmmm…wonder how Junior is feeling this morning as he watches this?
Maybe he’ll be starring in his own FBI movie next week.
Of course, this afternoon would be really good, too.
He’s sworn to “never” testify against Trump. Wait 'til he learns his cellmate Bubba is aroused by that Nixon tattoo.