Roger Stone: Manafort Plea 'Has No Bearing on Me'

Republican strategist Roger Stone said Friday that Paul Manafort’s decision to make a plea deal with federal investigators “has no bearing” on him despite their close association.

“I am uncertain of the details of Paul’s plea deal but certain it has no bearing on me since neither Paul Manafort or anyone else can testify truthfully that I am involved in Russian collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other illegal act pertaining to the 2016 election,” Stone said in a statement, according to CNN’s Sara Murray.

Manafort, the former chairman of President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and the co-founder of the lobbying firm Black, Manafort and Stone along with Charles R. Black, Jr. and Roger Stone, pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to violating foreign lobbying laws and witness tampering. He was previously found guilty in Virginia of federal tax and banking violations.

Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, told Fox News in a statement that the agreement has “nothing to do” with the president.

“Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign," Giuliani said. "The reason: the president did nothing wrong."

• Manafort Agrees to Plead Guilty to Crimes in Mueller Probe
• WashPost: Manafort Reportedly in Talks With Mueller on Plea Deal