Before sunrise Friday morning, the FBI, decked out in combat gear, surrounded the Ft. Lauderdale home of Roger Stone and pounded on his door, as CNN’s cameras documented the scene. The reason for the alarming early morning visit: to arrest Stone on a seven-count charge consisting of five counts of making false statements, one count of witness tampering, and one count of obstruction.
But while the charges from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office are potentially serious, they were, once again, glaringly absent of a key accusation, one President Trump made sure to point out in his response online: “Greatest Witch Hunt in the History of our Country! NO COLLUSION!” wrote Trump.
The president then slammed the special counsel for their treatment of his associate. “Border Coyotes, Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers are treated better,” he wrote. He ended the tweet by asking a question that’s been circling since CNN first aired their footage of the dramatic early morning raid: “Who alerted CNN to be there?” he asked.
The indictment against Stone, the Associated Press reports, “provides the most detail to date about how Trump campaign associates were aware in the summer of 2016 that emails had been stolen from the Hillary Clinton campaign and wanted them released” and “alleges that unnamed senior Trump campaign officials contacted Stone to ask when the stolen emails might be disclosed.”
AP notes that the indictment “does not charge Stone with conspiring with WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website that published the emails, or with the Russian officers Mueller says hacked them.” Rather, the indictment alleges that he made false statements to authorities, tried to tamper with a witness, and obstructed the investigation — all “process” charges rather than substantive charges related to conspiracy or collusion.
As The Daily Wire reported Friday, video aried by CNN shows about a dozen FBI agents, armed with rifles and wearing protective gear, surrounding Stone’s Florida home and then pounding on the door. “FBI. Open the door,” one agent can be heard yelling. “FBI warrant!”
The video shows Stone, in his sleep attire, eventually appearing at the door, with a CNN anchor exclaiming, “This is just remarkable to watch!” CNN explains that the FBI would only take such measures if they fear the suspect might flee or if they believe there may be key information at the location. Here’s CNN’s coverage:
Stone has since been released on bond, authorities determining that he’s not a flight risk. Upon release, he immediately addressed the charges against him.
“There is no circumstance whatsoever under which I will bear false witness against the president, nor will I make up lies to ease the pressure on myself,” Stone told reporters Friday. Asked if he hopes Trump will pardon him, Stone said, “The only person I’ve advocated a pardon for is Marcus Garvey.”
Asked if he “in any way work with the Russians to help President Trump,” Stone said, “Categorically not — no. Absolutely not.” Asked about the allegation that he was asked by a member of the Trump campaign to try to contact WikiLeaks, he said, “No, I’ve addressed that before. That is incorrect.”
Related: WATCH: Trump Associate Roger Stone Arrested In 6AM Raid