US President Donald Trump’s close ally Roger Stone has been charged with lying about his pursuit of Russian-hacked emails damaging to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election bid.
Prosecutors allege that senior Trump campaign officials sought to use the material to propel the Republican candidate into the White House.
Stone was arrested by the FBI in a raid before dawn on Friday at his Florida home.
He swiftly blasted the prosecution as politically motivated.
In a circus-like atmosphere outside the courthouse, as supporters cheered him on and jeering spectators shouted “lock him up”, Stone proclaimed his innocence and predicted he would be vindicated.
“As I have said previously, 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 said.
The seven-count indictment, the first criminal case in months in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, provides the most detail to date about how, in summer 2016, Trump campaign associates actively sought the disclosure of emails the US says were hacked by Russia and then provided to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
It alleges that an unidentified senior Trump campaign official was “directed” to keep in contact with Stone about when stolen emails relating to Clinton might be disclosed.
Stone is the sixth Trump aide or adviser charged by Mueller and the 34th person overall.
The two-year probe has exposed multiple contacts between Trump associates and Russia during the campaign and transition period, and revealed efforts by several people to conceal those communications.
The indictment brings the investigation even further into Trump’s circle of advisers and suggests campaign officials were eager to exploit the stolen messages for political gain.
However, prosecutors did not accuse Trump of wrongdoing or charge Stone with conspiring with WikiLeaks or with the Russian intelligence officers Mueller says hacked the emails. They also did not allege that Mr Trump aides knew in advance of the hacking.
CNN aired video of the raid at Stone’s home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, showing agents in body armour using large weapons and night-vision equipment, running up to the home and banging on the door.
“FBI open the door!” one shouts. “FBI, warrant!”
Stone could then be seen in the doorway before he was led away.
Though it is not uncommon for the FBI to make early-morning arrests of targets under indictment, it is the first time Mueller has used that tactic.
In court papers, prosecutors said they had concerns that if Stone was tipped off about the indictment, it would increase the risk he would flee or destroy evidence.
Hours after his arrest, Stone appeared in court in a blue polo shirt and jeans.
In releasing him on 250,000 dollar (£190,000) bond, a magistrate judge restricted Stone’s travel to South Florida, Washington and New York City and ordered him to avoid contact with witnesses.
He is due to appear in court in Washington on Tuesday, where the case was filed.
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