Longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone on Tuesday accused House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., of “trying to fabricate charges of perjury” against him.
In a fundraising email from his legal defense fund, Stone said the indictment he faces stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation can be traced back to Schiff.
“Personally, I take the fact that Schiff is urging Mueller to jack me up with some phony perjury charge as proof positive that neither the Special Counsel nor the House Intelligence Committee Democrats have any evidence of Russian collusion, collaboration with WikiLeaks or any proof whatsoever that I had advance knowledge of the source or content of the WikiLeaks disclosures that so roiled the 2016 campaign,” said the email, which was signed by Stone.
Last week a grand jury indicted Stone on seven counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing a congressional inquiry about communications with WikiLeaks — stemming from his interview with the House Intelligence Committee in September 2017 as part of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
[Related: What is Roger Stone charged with doing by Mueller?]
During an interview on ABC in early December, Schiff said Stone’s testimony should be delivered to Mueller “for consideration of whether perjury charges are warranted.” The House Intelligence Committee, then led by the GOP, voted to release a transcript of that closed-door testimony to Mueller on Dec. 20. That same day, Stone wrote a letter to then-chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., obtained by the Washington Examiner, calling for the transcript to be released to the public — something that has not come to pass.
“Please remember that I wanted my testimony to be in public so that everyone could make their own decisions about my veracity and agreed to testify behind closed doors only reluctantly and did so voluntarily,” Stone wrote Tuesday. “Even today I am not allowed to have a copy of the transcript of my own testimony. While my attorneys are allowed to travel to Washington to review my testimony, they must go to a secure room in the House of Representatives and they are not allowed to take notes. My testimony is both truthful and accurate.”
Stone’s letter, which shows a “Bullschiff” meter maxing out, said the cost of lawyers in the days ahead are “estimated to be an additional $2 Million.”
He denied the “lie” that he is worth $20 million and asked for donations.
“I have exhausted my meager savings. I liquidated a small fund generated by my book sales that was supposed to pay for my grandchildren’s college education,” he wrote. “In December I lost my life and health insurance due to my inability to pay the premiums. I own no stocks, bonds or real estate. Yet you will find fake news stories online calling me ‘the President’s wealthy friend” and others saying I am worth $20 million! It’s a lie!”
Stone pleaded not guilty in federal court on Tuesday and, while he has indicated a willingness to cooperate with Mueller, claims he will not testify against President Trump.
During an interview on ABC on Sunday, Stone argued that his attorneys believe the indictment he faces is “thin as piss on a rock.” Schiff, appearing on “This Week” after Stone, shot back, “They’re matters that will be easily provable. These are not ambiguous statements. They’re very detailed. And I think he’s going to need a much better defense than the one you just heard.”
