Thread by @MMineiro_CNS

Good morning! Roger Stone's trial is set to pick up speed today with a jury in the box and opening arguments from both sides.

Stone has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction of justice. @CourthouseNews

Yesterday was a bizarre episode of jury selection with Stone going home sick saying he had food poisoning.

Check out the list of potential witnesses (wouldn't hold your breath for Clinton, Assange testifying) or names that may pop up at trial for a look at where we're heading:

Stone’s back today, looking healthier, accompanied by his wife and daughter.

When he left yesterday he was sweating and clutching a Gatorade bottle.

Federal prosecutors seem to have big plans for day one with the jury — just headed into court with multiple easels and 5 or so massive posters.

Stone’s attorneys entering in close behind.

Day one took a strange turn with 2 medical emergencies. ICYMI:
courthousenews.com/illness-forces…

Jury in the box: 3 men, 11 women.

2 of the 14 are alternates to be notified when the case is submitted.

This jury is about 2/3 white.

Opening statements coming up.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson starting up reminding the public and press that contact with the jury is strictly prohibited.

Jury sworn in and seated.

Judge Jackson giving a break down of case -- WikiLeaks hack, tens of thousands docs leaked, Sep 2017 Stone congressional testimony, etc.

Many of the jurors selected said they watch little or no news.

Asst US Attorney saying Roger Stone lied to Congress because the "truth looked bad" for Trump.

Roger Stone called Trump one month before the WikiLeaks hack, Asst US Attorney Aaron Zelinsky just said.

Asst US Att Zelinsky giving the jury a first look at the trove of Stone emails federal prosecutors have for this trial --

Email from Stone to Paul Manafort Aug 2016 defendant said he had a plan that "aint pretty" for the election.

“Trump can still win--but time is running out.”

In the same email to Manafort, Trump's 2016 campaign manager, Stone said he had a plan to "save Trump’s ass."

Plus 6 examples from federal prosecutor just now of public statement Stone made in Aug 2016 about "back channels" to Julian Assange.

“Stone asked [Randy] Credico to check with Julian [Assange] and check with Assange if there were hacked emails ... that he was planning to release about Libya and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.” Asst US Attorney Zelinsky

"Stone regularly updated people in the Trump campaign in the senior levels about whatever information he thought he had about WikiLeaks.” Asst US Attorney Zelinsky.

Still laying out the timeline for the jury in opening statements... now onto ties to Steve Bannon.

Asst US Attorney saying Stone communicated with Steve Bannon the CEO of the Trump 2016 campaign, in summer 2016 about WikiLeaks info and ties to Assange --- but Stone lied and told House Intel Committee he didn't have any docs or emails that refer to Assange.

More than 45 mins into DOJ opening statement and we just hit the first Robert Mueller mention.

Looking at a Jan 25 2018 text chain between Stone and radio host Randy Credico, who will testify at trial:

Stone--“Waste of your time-- tell him to go f*** himself.”
Credico--"Who?"
Stone--"Mueller."

DOJ attorney confirming that we will hear from the following high profile witnesses:

Rick Gates
Steve Bannon
Randy Credico

Federal prosecutors are looking to pin on Stone:

Lied about ties to Assange
Lied about having only one go-between to WikiLeaks
Lied about having records of comms with Randy Credico
Lied about discussions with Trump campaign on WikiLeaks

That's a wrap for govt opening.

Breaking for lunch.

Jurors lunch will be delivered to them in the jury room.

"You haven't heard a scrap of evidence yet," Judge Jackson said, so don't discuss the case.

Spotted in the window of the DC federal court cafeteria. Roger Stone, Trump’s longtime associate, is on trial today for lying to Congress about ties to WikiLeaks.

Jury is back. Stone's legal team is teed up to give defense opening statement.

Stone's attorney Bruce Rogow saying this case is all about state of mind and Stone was not subpoenaed to testify to the House Intel Comm.

“I think the evidence will show that’s not the usual way that people go to a committee certainly if they are intending to lie.”

Showing letters Stone's other attorney, Robert Buschell, seated in the courtroom now, sent to the House Intel Committee in 2017 -- so far this opening statement is subdued compared to the govt's.

Clear this is going to be a "state of mind" trial -- defense attorney is peppering his opening statement with it.

Stone's testimony wasn't an evil attempt to deceive the committee, he's telling the jury.

“I understand that the government has morphed this into something beyond what the criterion is here. But what is critical here is what was in his mind when he was answering these questions.” -- Rogow, after reading out some lines from Stone testimony transcript.

Govt trying to make a case this was lying by focusing on five lies, Rogow said.

Then Rogow told the jury there were aprx 600 questions asked by the 14 House Intel Comm members plus comm staffers.

“We think the evidence will show that there was no corrupt intent in whatever was said or done.”

^final statement from Stone's attorney, now stepping down from the lectern.

First govt witness just sworn in: Michelle Taylor, former FBI agent, served on Mueller's investigative team.

Taylor is dissecting call records that show Stone made multiple calls to Trump's cell phone in summer 2016.

July 22, 2016 call lasted 2mins 37sec.

Stone Trial to Feature Testimony From Ex-Trump Adviser Bannon courthousenews.com/stone-trial-to…

Correction: innocent until proven guilty, Stone has been charged with lying to Congress, along with obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

UPDATED: Stone Lied to Congress to Protect Trump, Federal Prosecutor Tells Jurors courthousenews.com/stone-trial-to…