Thread by @MMineiro_CNS

Rainy day in DC and there’s a long line outside the federal courthouse where Roger Stone’s trial will pick up in under an hour.

Stone’s legal team just hopped in the back of the line, looking displeased. Alt right activist Milo Yiannopoulos just got in. @CourthouseNews

Stone has arrived. Just cut the line to join his lawyers near the front.

Court security bringing Stone, his wife and legal team in the side door now.

Still stuck in line along with most of the reporters covering the Stone trial.

He was originally in line with the rest of us before being pulled to the front through security and upstairs.

I'm in.

DOJ attorney is telling Judge Jackson the government plans to submit its case by TODAY but first will resubmit the request to screen a clip from "The Godfather Part II."

Judge said she will take it up before sending the case to the jury for deliberation.

Confirmed: RICK GATES up next to testify, former Trump deputy campaign manager

Rick Gates sworn in and seated at the witness box wearing a dark suit and powder blue tie.

He's testifying under a plea agreement (interestingly Judge Jackson seated next to him overseeing the Stone trial will also be the judge to sentence Gates).

"Before joining the Trump campaign did you commit crimes with Paul Manafort?"

"I did."

Looking now at the plea agreement Gates signed with US Gov, DOJ setting a basis of understanding for the jury on the conditions the witness is now testifying under.

Gates was charged with conspiracy against the USA and making a false statement to a federal govt official (FBI).

More detail:
not registering as a foreign agent
help Manafort file false tax returns
not reporting a foreign bank account (belonged to Manafort)

Max, Gates is facing ten years in prison.

This morning is not the first time he has testified in Judge Jackson's courtroom >>> courthousenews.com/rick-gates-tes…

Gates saying he's met with govt officials over 50x to prepare for testimony in the Paul Manafort and Greg Craig trial.

And 2x for the testimony now unfolding.

Just testified that he communicated with Stone during the Trump campaign, mostly over email and text.

DOJ attorney is gearing up now with questioning on Gates's initial contact with Stone on the Trump campaign in May/June 2016.

“Mr Stone had indicated that he had information that Wikileaks would be submitting or dropping information but no information on dates or anything of that nature.” Gates

If the DOJ attorney continues along this path of questioning we will soon be learning from Gate's testimony what is behind the redactions in this section of the Mueller Report, Volume II.

Stone's attorneys have objected to a question from the DOJ on the reaction among Trump campaign staff when Julian Assange announced on 6/12/16 that he was going to be releasing damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

Judge let the DOJ attorney proceed with questioning Gates on the response and the witness said the Trump campaign's response to Assange's announcement was "one of happiness."

Interesting developments here, we have jumped past July 22 when WikiLeaks released the initial batch of DNC emails.

Gates was testifying about a call Stone made to Trump in late July 2016 that he overheard, then Stone's attorney objected.

“Yes he [Trump] had made a remark in regards to the call.” Gates

"Objection."

Judge tells DOJ attorney to proceed with asking the next question.

“Immediately after the phone call with Mr Stone ended what did Mr Tump say to you?" DOJ

DOJ exhibit list for today indicates that this call took place on July 31, 2016.....

Still waiting on direct examination to pick back up. DOJ and Stone attorneys have been at the bench talking with the judge for about 3 or 4 mins now.

Judge let DOJ go ahead...Gates' response to the question, what did Trump say after getting off the phone with Stone in late July 2016?

“He [Trump] indicated that more information would be coming.”

That's it for the DOJ direct on Gates, under an hour.

Cross examination underway. Stone's attorney just asked the witness if he ever said that Stone never talked to him, or that he was unaware of conversation between Stone and Manafort.

“Uh no I never said that.” Gates

Defense attorney Bruce Rogow went to approach the witness box with something, saying “Alright let me show you something" but DOJ objected.

Just got a better idea from Gates about this heavily redacted section of the Mueller Report.

Said he was in a suburban with Trump & two secret service agents, Gates in the back & Trump in the middle row. Gates heard Stone's voice on the phone also saw RS's name on caller ID.

Asked by Stone's attorney if he knew the content of the call, Gates admitted he did not.

But he did just testify under direct that after hanging up Trump "indicated that more information would be coming.”

To place this, we're talking about late July 2016 after the first WikiLeaks dump but before the Oct 2016 release of emails belonging to John Podesta, the Clinton campaign manager.

Last question to Gates under cross examination -- Stone "did not tell you that there would be this specific information release?”

“That is correct.”

“Prior to the release of information did Mr Stone tell you that there was more information coming.?” DOJ

“He did”

Gates final statement fro the witness stand:

"Given that the information was coming from Wikileaks I assumed it was Wikileaks....because the press releases hadn’t come out yet so it was information in advance.”

That's a wrap, got a ten min break and that back with another govt witness.

Govt re-calling former FBI agent Michelle Taylor to the witness stand in a final push to get the judge to approve screening a Godfather clip for the jury to demonstrate alleged witness tampering by Stone.

DOJ attorney putting up on the screen the transcript from Stone's testimony to Congress.

Focusing on sections where Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell questioned Stone about his Twitter persona, also on that WikiLeaks “served as a third party intermediary for Russian intelligence."

DOJ attorney asked Taylor, who testified that she saw "The Godfather Part II" most recently last night, if the transcript of the scene it wanted to show was a “fair and accurate transcript of the Frank Pentangeli congressional testimony scene?"

Yes, the witness said.

Last question to Taylor, last witness for the govt.

DOJ now submitting some stipulations, some more exhibits, all procedural.

We will learn shortly if Stone plans to take the stand.

Govt just asked to move into evidence the portion of Steve Bannon's grand jury transcript referenced in the former WH special counsel's testimony from Friday.

Can you approach the bench about that?
yes your honor

No indication of what just went down at the bench.

"And with that, the government rests."

Judge letting the jury out for lunch.

"it's a little dicey to say when we'll return...." she added.

Tells the 12 person jury plus two alternates to return at 1:30.

Looking like Stone does not plan to take the stand.

His attorney just asked to introduce as evidence a 50min audio recording of Stone's testimony to Congress

Will they have the transcript “to follow along?” judge asked
“We just want the jury to listen.” Stone's attorney said.

"I don't see why we wouldn't close tomorrow." Judge Jackson just said.

Judge giving a breakdown of what's ahead:

>complete defense case this afternoon
>gather tomorrow morning for jury instruction conference
>begin closing statements (1hr each) Wed at 1PM, back to back to not be interrupted by lunch

Govt asked for 1hr15mins, defense also made a request that couldn't be heard bc Stone's attorney didn't step to the lectern

Judge is warning them not to be repetitive and trust that the jury can remember what they were told 5 mins ago

Back in 20mins with the defense case.

Judge Jackson seemed unlikely to grant the defense motion to acquit Stone, submitted earlier this morning, in discussion with attorneys after the jury let out for lunch.

“Mr Stone knew full well why a congressional investigation...would naturally tend to touch on the documents that were ultimately published by Wikileaks.”

And we're back at it. Jury still waiting outside the courtroom.

Judge Jackson said she is going to hold off ruling on the defense motion for acquittal until later.

Huh, Milo Yiannopoulos today is seated in the front row reserved for Stone's friends and family.

Pink tie easy to spot in the courtroom of black clad attorneys.

DEVELOPING -- read up on Gates' testimony this morning. More to come later today as the defense presents its case.
courthousenews.com/stone-told-tru…

Stone's attorney just asked if he has to stand for the entire 50 mins or so as the defense plays two segments of audio recording from Stone's testimony to the House Intel Committee.

Judge said he can return to his seat.

Jury returning to their seats. Stone stands as they file in wearing his signature black rimmed round glasses.

Stone's voice now ringing through the courtroom, audio of his testimony to Congress.

Most of these questions will come from Adam Schiff, the Ranking Democrat at the time, and Trey Gowdy, the House Intel Chair when Stone testified.

This audio is crackly, nearly impossible to understand in some portions.

Right now the back and forth between Stone and Schiff, where the ranking dem repeatedly asks Stone if he has any docs, texts, email, tweets relating to the committee's investigation.

"No documents, no emails, no texts, no tweets, that refer to Julian Assange, or Gucipher 2, or Paul Manafort.....” Schiff

“In connection with Russian collusion, consistent with your exact and precise request, yes.” Stone

Audio from Stone's testimony, Stone saying he talked with Trump during the campaign, some calls as long as an hour but denies any conversations related to Russian interference in the election...

..." I think its important to recognize that when you talk to president trump for an hour that means he talks for 50 minutes and you talk for 10.” Stone told Congress

Appears to contradict testimony from Gates earlier today>>>

“Did you every discuss WikiLeaks with him [Trump]?”

“Did not.” Stone told House Intel Committee

“Did you have any communication with WikiLeaks?”

“I did not”

Plus Stone told the committee that he did not communicate with anyone prior to this testimony to Congress.

Jury listening to this Stone congressional testimony audio for 38 minutes now.

DOJ attorney also appears to be timing it on his wrist watch.

Stone told Congress that he did not know about the Internet Research Agency, the Russian troll group responsible for the majority of the false content pushed out to interfere in the 2016 election.

Asked if he knows that the theory that the DNC hack was an inside job was debunked Stone said “I am not surprised by that but it doesn’t make it incorrect.”

Committee member looking to confirm that Stone doesn't have any relevant records says Stone communicates by phone calls, emails, texts, Twitter.

And Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Stone chimes in.

“You have checked all those venues...and you have found nothing?”

“That is correct...I believe we have fully complied with your request.” Stone

Asked if it's a coincidence that he Tweeted widely about a WikiLease releasing damaging info on Clinton, and then it happened, Stone said “Yes indeed it is exactly that -- a coincidence.”

Minutes later “As I have said I never had any business with Russia.”

51:43 into listening to the Stone testimony now...quality still rough, voices fading in and out from the congressional testimony

Courtroom goes quiet.

"Mr. Stone rests," defense attorney says stepping to the lectern.

No questions from the govt.

Judge Jackson now telling the jury that the case will be submitted to them tomorrow, with closing arguments beginning at 1PM.

BREAKING: Stone just confirmed that he has made the voluntary decision to waive his constitutional right to testify and will not take the stand.

“And you understand that if you do not testify that can not be used against you in any way?” Judge Jackson

“Yes your honor I do.” Stone

UPDATED: Gates fueled a lot of eyebrow raising questions today about the answers Trump gave Mueller last year on WikiLeaks. Read the full breakdown of his testimony and the unusual case put on by the defense. Closing statements tomorrow. @CourthouseNews
courthousenews.com/stone-told-tru…