On Good Friday, Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged conspiracy involving Trump officials and Russians took down another Trump official with the indictment of Roger Stone.
So that's more than 60 indictments of former Trump staff or campaign officials - more than any modern-day presidential administration since Richard Nixon, who had 76 in almost six years. There have also been scores of indictments involving Russians who allegedly influenced the election. For his part, Trump has tweeted that Mueller’s investigation was a “witch hunt” more than 125 times, including on Friday, of course.
If you're keeping score, here are some tidbits on the indicted's fate so far:
* Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor and a key campaign aide: Resigned in February 2017 and worked out a deal in late
2017 to plead guilty to lying to the FBI in exchange for a light sentence. As
of early 2019, he has yet to be sentenced.
* Paul Manafort, former manager of Trump’s 2016 campaign: Indicted in late 2017 in connection with consulting work for pro-Russian Ukraine leaders. Convicted in 2018 of numerous charges, including bank fraud. Sentencing slated for March 2019.
* Rick Gates, former deputy manager of Trump's 2016 campaign, deputy chairman of Trump's inaugural committee: Indicted in late 2017 in
connection with consulting work for pro-Russian Ukraine leaders. Pleaded guilty to charges that included conspiracy in 2018. Awaits sentencing.
* George Papadopoulos, former foreign policy advisor
to Trump’s campaign: Convicted of lying to the FBI and served two weeks in prison
in 2018.
* Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer for a dozen years: Pleaded guilty in 2018 to eight counts of campaign finance violations and
fraud. He also admitted to lying to Congressional investigators about deals
with Russian officials and paying hush money to women who accused Trump
of sexual assault during the campaign. Cohen said he violated campaign finance
laws at Trump’s direction and for “the principal purpose of influencing”
the 2016 presidential election. Sentenced to three years in prison in 2018. He said
Trump had caused him to “follow a path of darkness rather than light,” that his
“blind loyalty” to Trump made him feel like it was his “duty to cover up his
dirty deeds.”
* Roger Stone, longtime lobbyist for Trump and 2016 Trump campaign "dirty trickster" who acted as sort of a Nixonian plumber: Indicted on seven counts in 2019, including making false statements and witness tampering.
In 2000, Stone and Donald Trump "went after" a Native American-owned casino in upstate New York that was competing with Trump's casino in Atlantic City. They set up a fake "family values" group and ran a series of racist ads against Native Americans, calling the Mohawk tribe "crooks" and worse by falsely linking them to organized crime. Their punishment? A $250,000 fine.
Stone has called New York Times columnist Gail Collins an "elitist cu--," said Megyn Kelly had a "nice set of cans," and once tweeted at New York Times editor Jill Abramson a simple and elegant "DIE BI---." He's publicly wished Hillary Clinton would die, and hoped Anna Navarro would kill herself. During the 2008 election, he started an anti-Hillary Clinton group called Citizens United, Not Timid, or CUNT.
Stone has also made racist remarks, such as towards former CNN pundit Roland Martin, whom he has called a "dumb, embarrassing token," a "stupid negro" and a "fat negro." One time, he tweeted at Martin, "Who made you God, Fattass? Eat some more Popeye's."
#Russiagate #RogerStone #DonaldTrump #TrumpRussia #collusion #treason #MuellerTime #RobertMueller
