Roger Stone, who is facing more than three years in prison, said he has a newfound faith in Jesus Christ and is making a rare congressional endorsement.
Stone, a former Trump adviser and self-described “dirty trickster,” opened up about what he described as his newfound “very serious” personal Christian faith, crediting Rev. Franklin Graham for his counsel.
In a brief telephone interview this week with the Washington Examiner, Stone said Graham told him “to put myself in God’s hands,” and “that I should put my faith in God, and confess my sins, acknowledge Jesus Christ in my life. And I have done that.”
“I’m aware of the fact there are skeptics who are going to say ‘Stone is posturing. Stone is maneuvering for public sympathy,’ and so on. But that’s just not the case. And He, God, knows what’s in my heart.”
Stone was arrested in January 2019 and was later found guilty on five separate counts of lying to the House Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian interference about his alleged outreach to WikiLeaks, one count that he “corruptly obstructed” the congressional investigation, and another for attempting to intimidate a possible congressional witness, radio host Randy Credico.
Last week, federal judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, declined Stone’s request for a new trial on the claim that the one he had was unfair, and lifted a gag order that prevented him from publicly discussing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation or his own court case, which stemmed from that inquiry. Stone’s lawyers alleged one of the members of the jury, Tomeka Hart, was not an impartial juror due to her past partisan activity. Hart, who was a former Democratic congressional candidate and a program officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, repeatedly shared anti-Trump posts on social media.
In January 2019, Hart shared an article that mentioned Stone and said it was “brought to you by the lock her up peanut gallery.” One day later, she retweeted a tweet from a CNN commentator which criticized Republicans who were upset with his arrest.
Stone was sentenced to 40 months for obstruction of justice and 12 months for the other five counts to be served concurrently. Stone also received a $20,000 fine and 24 months of supervised release when he gets out.
“I’m 67 years old, with a history of respiratory problems. And I do think this is tantamount to a death sentence,” Stone said of his prison sentence.
Stone’s daughter, Adria, issued a public call in November to President Trump to “save” her father, saying his sentencing would have a significant impact on their family.
Trump has decried Stone’s sentencing as a “miscarriage of justice” in the past but has thus far refused to grant clemency for him, though he says he is still loyal to the president. Stone said there has been no communication between him or his lawyers and the White House on the matter. Stone may appeal over the next couple weeks but could be court-ordered to report to prison to serve out his sentence as early as two weeks from now.
“Right now, all I can do is pray for justice and mercy, and I’m doing that,” Stone said, leaving the subject of a pardon “in God’s hands.“
Stone also spoke to the Washington Examiner about his decision to endorse Florida GOP congressional candidate Judson Sapp, who lives in Green Cove Springs, Florida, approximately 30 miles south from the heart of Jacksonville. Though Stone lives farther down south in Fort Lauderdale, a source told the Washington Examiner that Stone and Sapp have been friends for years as the two’s activity in Florida Republican politics overlapped.
“I think he is one of the most dynamic, young conservatives that I have met,” Stone said of Sapp, likening the congressional candidate to Trump in several ways. “He’s an entrepreneur … nobody owns him, he’s not beholden to any special interest, and I have very high hopes he could emerge as one of the real leaders in Congress,” Stone said, likening Sapp’s entrepreneurial accomplishments to the president.
Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, an area won by Trump during the 2016 election covering a northern swath of the state, including Gainesville, has a crowded Republican primary of candidates seeking to take the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Ted Yoho. Other challengers include Clay County Commissioner Gavin Rollins and former Yoho deputy chief of staff Kat Cammack, who recently obtained a prominent endorsement from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Sapp has been favored by some of Trump’s closest allies and national conservative personalities, including Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, and Second Amendment advocate Dana Loesch.
The Florida GOP congressional candidate also raised money in Clay County and, as a father of two, worked on the 2020 Trump Victory Finance Committee, appearing with Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, and Trump campaign surrogate Kimberly Guilfoyle to raise funds for Trump’s reelection campaign.
Guilfoyle has lauded Sapp for his support of Trump on social media while Trump Jr. has shared opinion articles written by the Republican candidate.
“Roger Stone is the original Trump supporter. He had a vision and has stood with President Trump from day one. I am honored that Roger has also chosen to stand by me,” Sapp told the Washington Examiner.
Earlier this month, Sapp temporarily suspended campaign activities to assist supply chains in his state via railroads, asking supporters to instead donate to local charities.
According to a poll released this week by Americana Analytics, Sapp holds a significant lead in the race with 16% approval, with Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn falling in second with 4%. Should Sapp win the nomination for his district in August, he would take on one of four Democrats presently vying for the seat.
