Newly-indicted Trump confidant Roger Stone indicated Sunday that he hadn’t shut the door on the idea of cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller.
In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Stone maintained his innocence (aside from some professed “inconsequential” errors in prior congressional testimony, which the special counsel’s office has alleged were criminal lies), but expressed an openness to cooperating with Mueller.
At one point on Sunday, Stephanopoulos asked Stone: “You say you won’t bear false witness against President Trump. Are you prepared to tell the truth about your dealings with him to the special counsel, the truth about your dealings with the campaign? Any chance you’ll cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller if he asks?”
“You know, that’s a question I have to determine after my attorneys have some discussion,” Stone replied. “If there’s wrongdoing by other people in the campaign that I know about, which I know of none, but if there is I would certainly testify honestly.”
He continued: “I’d also testify honestly about any other matter, including any communications with the President. It’s true that we spoke on the phone, but those communications are political in nature, they’re benign, and there is certainly no conspiracy with Russia.”
JUST IN: @GStephanopoulos: "Any chance you'll cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller if he asks?"
Roger Stone: "That's a question I'll have to determine after my attorneys have some discussion… I would certainly testify honestly." https://t.co/69J3ebSKtq pic.twitter.com/wdXdmvGOOo
— ABC News (@ABC) January 27, 2019
Bait and switch?
Nothing political is benign when talking about conversations with the WH occupant.
I doubt if Mueller will be willing to make a deal with someone who engaged in the kind of witness intimidation Stone is guilty of. Its one thing to lie – its another to threaten others to compel them to lie.
Roger Stone will never tell the truth. He will not become a “rat.” He will continue to try to set the example that, in politics, you can do whatever you want, deny it, lie about it, vaguely claim credit for it if it makes you look tough but won’t get you in trouble, but never suffer accountability for it.
He was Manafort’s partner and has a similar world view. I’m sure he looks down on Cohen.
He’s speaking to Trump here, angling for a Pardon.
Unless backed by thorough documentation, his testimony is worthless, and even Trump’s incompetent attorneys could shred it thoroughly. Mueller will let the texts and e-mails that he’s collected do the talking.