Stone leaves court without speaking publicly

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone (all times local):

11:45 a.m.

Donald Trump's longtime friend and confidant Roger Stone has made an uncharacteristically silent exit from his court hearing.

Stone left the federal courthouse in Washington on Tuesday without speaking publicly after entering a not guilty plea to charges filed in the special counsel's Russia investigation. Stone raised his hands to make victory signs and smiled as he hopped into a black SUV amid a swarm of protesters and supporters.

The political operative was arrested last week in Florida and spent the weekend publicly blasting special counsel Robert Mueller's case against him as politically motivated. He's charged in a seven-count indictment with obstruction, lying to Congress and witness tampering.

Prosecutors say Stone lied about the contents of his discussions with the Trump campaign involving WikiLeaks and hacked material damaging to Hillary Clinton released during the 2016 campaign.

___

11:05 a.m.

Donald Trump's longtime friend Roger Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges in the special counsel's Russia investigation.

Stone appeared Tuesday for his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Washington after spending the weekend blasting special counsel Robert Mueller's case against him as politically motivated.

The self-proclaimed dirty trickster was arrested last week during a pre-dawn raid at his Florida home. He is charged in a seven-count indictment with obstruction, lying to Congress and witness tampering. Prosecutors say he lied about the contents of his discussions with the Trump campaign involving WikiLeaks and hacked material damaging to Hillary Clinton that the anti-secrecy group released during the 2016 campaign.

Stone is also accused of corruptly influencing the testimony of another witness.

___

10:25 a.m.

Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone has arrived at the federal courthouse in Washington as he faces charges in the Russia investigation.

Stone arrived Tuesday in a black SUV wearing an all-blue suit and tie. He waved to a small crowd of supporters and protesters, including some yelling, "Lock him up."

The longtime political operative is appearing for his arraignment after spending the weekend blasting special counsel Robert Mueller's case against him as politically motivated.

Stone was arrested in Florida last week and is charged in a seven-count indictment with obstruction, lying to Congress and witness tampering.

Prosecutors say Stone lied about the contents of his discussions with the Trump campaign involving WikiLeaks and hacked material damaging to Hillary Clinton that the anti-secrecy group released during the 2016 campaign.

___

12:15 a.m.

After a weekend of publicity and television news appearances, Roger Stone will come before a federal judge who may look to silence the Donald Trump confidant.

Stone faces a Tuesday morning arraignment in Washington, where he is expected to plead not guilty to charges that he lied to Congress and engaged in witness tampering.

Stone is a self-described dirty trickster and longtime confidant of the president. He has asserted his innocence in a series of TV interviews since his pre-dawn arrest Friday in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Being outspoken is an unusual strategy given that most defendants tend to stay quiet as their case proceeds.

It's unclear whether Mueller's prosecutors will look to have Stone locked up, and whether Magistrate Deborah Robinson might impose a gag order.

All contents © copyright 2019 Associated Press. All rights reserved.