Trump ally Roger Stone pleads the fifth during testimony
Used fifth amendment right during testimony before House committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY/AP) - Roger Stone, longtime confidant of former President Donald Trump, has used his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in an interview with the House panel investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
He told reporters as he left the deposition Friday, “I did my civic duty and I responded as required by law,” but that he used his Fifth Amendment rights to every question.
The committee subpoenaed Stone last month, says he spoke at rallies on the day before the insurrection. The committee also claims Stone used members of far-right extremist group the Oath Keepers as personal security guards during his stay in Washington D.C.
Several members of that militia group broke into the Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, along with hundreds of other supporters of former President Trump. They have been charged with conspiring to block the certification of the vote.
Stone was pardoned by Trump after being convicted in 2019 of lying to Congress. He is also one of several in Trump’s inner circle who has refused to answer questions from the committee.
The House has already held two of Trump’s top allies — Steve Bannon and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows — in contempt for not cooperating.
However, many more witnesses have cooperated.
The panel has completed around 300 interviews as it tries to form a detailed record of the attack.