Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone declined to give the House Judiciary Committee the documents it requested last week, invoking the 5th Amendment.
The panel requested documents highlighting any “obstruction of justice, corruption, and abuse of power” by Trump from 81 individuals and entities connected to Trump, his campaign, and his associates in an attempt to uncover alleged obstruction of justice, corruption, or abuses of power by the president.
“This reply in response to the request by you, is written with the utmost respect for the committee and its staff. Mr. Stone’s invocation of the his Fifth Amendment rights must be understood by all to be the assertion of a Constitutional right by an innocent citizen, who is currently defending his innocence, and one who denounces secrecy for the purposes of advancing innuendo,” said a letter from Stone’s attorney, Grant Smith.
The committee, led by Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., requested Stone turn over any documents relating to hush money paid for by Michael Cohen to women who have alleged they had affairs with Trump. Nadler also asked for documents related to any deals offered to Trump or his business by foreign governments, contacts with WikiLeaks, and any communications involving agents of the Russian government.
Stone was arrested by the FBI in January during a predawn raid on his Fort Lauderdale home. He was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller and the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia on seven counts, including making false statements to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. The self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” has denied any wrongdoing in the case and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“As a current criminal defendant, with the presumption of innocence guaranteed to him, it is not in Mr. Stone’s best interest to participate in any additional proceedings, outside those in federal court, until the charges are resolved,” the letter from Smith said.
“Neither will Mr. Stone confirm for your Committee the existence of, or produce any documents requested, for the purpose of being used against him in anyway or to further the political agenda of people who want nothing more than to avenge the loss of their chosen candidate for president in 2016 by deposing the legally elected office holder,” the letter added.
[Read more: John Podesta: ‘Roger Stone’s on his way to prison’]
