Signs grow that Mueller is zeroing in on Roger Stone

Source: The Hill | August 13, 2018 | Morgan Chalfant

Special counsel Robert Mueller appears to be narrowing his focus on Roger Stone in his investigation into Russian interference in the election, prompting widespread speculation that the longtime adviser to President Trump is likely a target in the probe.

Stone has long been subject to public scrutiny as a result of his connections to WikiLeaks and Guccifer 2.0, the hacking persona that Mueller’s team now alleges was a front for Russian intelligence officers.

The focus on Stone has seemed to intensify in recent weeks, as Mueller has sought testimony from a growing number of individuals linked to him.

Most telling, perhaps, is the fact that Roger Stone himself has not yet been called to interview with Mueller or testify before the grand jury.

Legal analysts see this as a sign that Stone is a subject, if not a target, of the investigation into whether there was collusion between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.

“Mueller is obviously closing in on Stone,” said Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor with the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office.

On Friday afternoon, Kristin Davis, the former leader of an upscale prostitution ring who is better known as “Manhattan Madam,” testified before the grand jury in Mueller’s probe, her spokeswoman, Lainie Speiser, confirmed. Davis has a longstanding relationship with Stone going back a decade, and could offer valuable information on his personal and professional contacts.

Separately, Mueller has subpoenaed Randy Credico, a political satirist and radio host, to appear before the grand jury on Sept. 7. Stone claims that Credico was the intermediary who helped him communicate with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during the 2016 election campaign.

Martin Stoler, a lawyer for Credico, said that he expects Mueller’s team to question his client on his connections to Stone and Assange.

“No clear indications of what they want to talk about but I would be surprised if it was anything except his relations with Stone and Assange,” Stoler told The Hill.

Credico and Davis are two of a handful of associates of Stone who have been contacted in the Russia investigation.

Former Stone aide Andrew Miller, who a federal judge held in contempt of the court last week for refusing to testify before the grand jury, is a third example. However, the special counsel has yet to interview or subpoena Stone himself, according to his lawyers.

“While Mr. Mueller’s office has continued to interview and subpoena people very close to Mr. Stone, Mr. Stone has not been asked to participate with the Office of the Special Counsel, nor has Mr. Stone engaged with the Office of the Special Counsel,” Grant Smith, an attorney for Stone, said Monday.

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“The typical practice whether in administrative or criminal investigation, is to collect as much evidence whether documentary or witness interviews, prior to going to the target themselves,” Mark Zaid, a D.C. based attorney who specializes in national security law. “You get all your ducks in order before you talk to the individual.”

Mueller’s movements, Zaid said, signal that the special counsel is getting closer to interviewing Stone, a longtime adviser to Trump who briefly worked on the president’s campaign in its infancy.

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