Another Trump-Familiar is in the clutches of justice. The charges against Roger Stone is a clear evidence for the Russia connection, says a legal adviser of Ex-President George W. Bush in the DW-interview.
Roger Stone, the longtime Confidant of US President Donald Trump, has been accused in the course of the investigation to Russia affair. Early Friday morning, FBI officials were standing in front of Stones house in the state of Florida to arrest him. A few hours later, he stood in front of the court and just came up against a bail of 250,000 dollars on your own recognizance.
Richard Painter, you were the legal Advisor of U.S. President George W. Bush. How do you assess the arrest and indictment of Roger Stone, even for Donald Trump?
This is a clear evidence for the cooperation of high-ranking Trump staff, and Wikileaks during the election campaign of 2016, in order to get to the documents that had been stolen from the Russians. Of course, there are further hints of a collaboration between the trump’s campaign team and the Russians. But now the circle is closed. It is clear that trump’s campaign team with the Russians and Wikileaks have worked together to come to an E-mail, the Hillary Clinton and the DNC [the Democratic party – ed.] were stolen.
In the present indictment, President Trump will not be mentioned directly. Could the offspring of something else?
Absolutely, and the son] of Jared Kushner and Donald trump, Jr., relates to the President as well as senior officials in the election campaign, probably including [trump’s son-in-law., the New York-based Trump-skyscrapers came together with the Russians, and about languages, how they could get incriminating Material on Hillary [Clinton]. Now it all comes together – a bad Situation for President Trump.
Richard Painter, Ex-adviser of President G. W. Bush
In the indictment it is, “a senior employee of trump’s campaign team had instructed to supply Stone with information that could the Clinton-election battle damage”. Who could be this employee?
We don’t know. There is speculation that it was Steve Bannon, but we don’t know it at the moment. Steve Bannon worked closely with Cambridge Analytica and other groups, the Trumps of the election campaign activities, with technical information contributed. In addition, we still know nothing.
This is the most significant charge of special investigator Robert Mueller?
This is certainly one of the most important indictments. We remember: trump’s campaign Manager Paul Manafort, was indicted and convicted. Rick Gates, his Deputy: prosecuted and sentenced to prison. Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen: arrested and charged and guilty plea. And then we have several other close associates of the President, have been convicted of serious criminal activity guilty. This new indictment is very, very important.
What does this mean for President Trump himself, how dangerous for him and his campaign staff?
It is especially for the United States is dangerous. The closer the prosecutors Trump, his family and his closest associates come, the bigger concern is that his behavior is irrational. This is dangerous – after all, he has the control over nuclear weapons and the Power he has as President.
They say the charges against Stone closing the circle. What do you expect next from Robert Mueller?
I mean, the next to Stones contact man in trump’s campaign team will be charged; between the two there is clearly a conspiracy. I think it’s coming soon. And then we have the other campaign workers and President of the Trump itself, which have contributed to the obstruction of the investigation.
You were President of the adviser. If Trump would be your boss today, what would you say to him?
It should speak with his personal lawyer. I was the official legal Advisor for ethics in the White house under President Bush. But at the time, was President of the Trump talk with his own personal attorney, because he and members of his family have to reckon with the considerable problems of criminal investigations.
As I said earlier: This development should convince Trump, with the representatives of the prosecution at the Federal level and at the level of the state of New York, the interest for him and his family to cooperate. He should seek an agreement, possibly in exchange for a Mild step back. We would all be better served if he would come to conclude an Agreement with the prosecution.
The charges against Roger Stone is only an indictment, not a court judgment. If you look at the indictment and the evidence in the case, Mueller’s Team has presented – how credible is all this?
It looks very convincing. Mueller’s Team has worked very carefully – some say: too slow. But if you submit an indictment, then you want to be sure that you have everything together in order to win the case. And you have a very good success story when it comes to admissions of guilt and convictions in these cases. I don’t think that they would not have submitted to this indictment, if you have absolutely convincing evidence.
Richard Painter was the chief ethics Advisor to the White house under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007. He is a law Professor at the University of Minnesota and a Board member of the organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which is dedicated to the fight against corruption circles in government.
The interview was conducted by Michael Knigge