Roger Stone, President Trump's longtime friend and political advisor, traveled from Florida to Washington, DC on Monday to appear in federal court at 11am ET Tuesday where he faces seven charges of obstruction, lying, and witness tampering.
Stone plans to plead not guilty.
He also says he has no plans to cut a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
"If there’s wrongdoing by other people in the campaign that I know about, which I know of none, but if there is I would certainly testify honestly,” Stone said. “I’d also testify honestly about any other matter, including any communications with the president. It’s true that we spoke on the phone, but those communications are political in nature, they’re benign, and there is –- there is certainly no conspiracy with Russia."
"I'm falsely accused of lying under Congress, which I did not do," Stone told reporters on Monday as he left his home to travel to D.C. "I am 66 years old. I do not own a gun. I do not have a valid passport. I have no prior criminal record. I'm charged with non violent processed crimes. To storm my house with greater force than was used to take down Bin Laden or El Chapo or Pablo Escobar, to terrorize my wife and my dogs, it's unconscionable."
Last Friday, a judge granted Stone a $250,000 bond, and ordered him to only travel within South Florida, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
During a White House press briefing Monday, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said she has not discussed with President Trump the possibly of pardoning Stone.
CNN:
“I’m not aware of that. I haven’t had any conversations regarding that matter.”
A reporter followed up, asking Sanders if she planned discuss the possible pardon with the President.
“I’m not going to get into that at this point, but if need be, I’ll let you know," she said.
Later, she repeated that she's unaware of any talk about pardons: "Again, I’m not aware of a conversation regarding that or a need for it."
She also said that Stone's indictment has "nothing to do with the President."
"So in fact, I think the further we get into the process, the more and more we see that this has nothing to do with President Trump," she said.
Stone has not been shy about speaking to the media, but tomorrow's arraignment before Judge Amy Berman Jackson could put a lid on that habit. Berman Jackson is the same judge who presided over the Paul Manafort and Rick Gates criminal trial who issued a directive in November 2017 warning participants not to try to litigate that case in the press.
Roger Stone to be arraigned Tuesday in Washington, D.C. on charges of obstruction, witness tampering (AP)
Sarah Sanders says she's "not aware" if Trump has ruled out a pardon for Roger Stone (CNN)