Special counsel Robert Mueller is focusing his investigation on ties between Trump campaign official Rick Gates and political consultant Roger Stone, according to a report Thursday.
Stone has reportedly been a top priority in the investigation into Russian involvement in the presidential election and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. But now, Mueller is shifting his focus to the relationship between Gates and Stone, according to CNBC.
Stone’s attorney, Robert Buschel, told CNBC that Stone and Gates had no “meaningful” interactions.
“Roger Stone did not have any substantive or meaningful interaction with Rick Gates during or leading up to the 2016 campaign,” Buschel said.
Former Trump campaign adviser, Sam Nunberg, said he was questioned about Stone’s involvement with WikiLeaks during his interview with Mueller’s team in March
“Roger is certainly a subject,” Nunberg said. “The fact that Roger hasn’t been called in and the special counsel continues to ask questions about Roger’s possible activities during the election shows that at the very least he’s a subject.”
Stone reportedly met with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2016.
In an email unearthed by the Wall Street Journal, Stone said: “I dined with my new pal Julian Assange last nite.”
Stone has denied having contracts or communications with Russian operatives.
Gates pleaded guilty in February to financial fraud and lying to investigators during the Russia probe.
