New video shows Roger Stone with Oath Keepers on Jan. 6
New video footage released by ABC News Friday shows Trump ally and longtime advisor Roger Stone with members of the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers on the morning of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection.
In the video, Stone snaps photos and mingles with supporters outside of the Willard InterContinental hotel, located blocks from the White House. Spotted among the crowd are supporters wearing the Oath Keepers logo on various items of clothing. A man in an Oath Keepers branded baseball cap and military-style vest is clearly visible throughout the video.
EXCLUSIVE: Video surfaces showing longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone flanked by Oath Keepers militia members hours before deadly U.S. Capitol siege. https://t.co/WLVbyiyfEj pic.twitter.com/6WFsceMI5Q
— ABC News (@ABC) February 5, 2021
In the footage, Stone can be seen briefly interacting with at least one member of the militia group.
At one point during the video, a supporter prompts asks Stone, “So, hopefully we have this today, right?” In response, Stone says, “We shall see.” It’s not clear from the footage, posted before 10 a.m. on Jan. 6, what the two are referring to.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has labeled the Oath Keepers the “largest radical antigovernment group in the U.S. today.”
The SPLC argues that while the Oath Keepers claim to be about defending the Constitution, in reality the organization is “based on a set of baseless conspiracy theories about the federal government working to destroy the liberties of Americans.”
Since Jan. 6, photos have surfaced of various insurrection participants posing alongside Stone, ABC News reports. Conspiracy charges have also been made against group members for their role in the deadly event.
Stone has maintained his innocence in the Capitol riot, insisting that he had no knowledge of the planned attack and that he “never left the site of my hotel until leaving for Dulles Airport” that afternoon.
“I had no advance knowledge of the riot at the Capitol,” Stone told ABC News in response to the video footage. “I could not even tell you the names of those who volunteered to provide security for me, required because of the many threats against me and my family.”
Oath Keepers were reportedly acting as protective guards for Stone during his D.C. visit, and were seen backstage monitoring him on the eve of Jan. 6 during a pre-rally event, and ushering him in a golf cart to a speech. Throughout the weekend, the escorts wore Oath Keepers clothing and tactical gear, as well as “all access” passes on lanyards, Vice News reports.
Stone also maintained his innocence to Vice, saying that “I never left my hotel room at all on Jan. 6” and “I was not at the Capitol and know nothing about the events there.”
Stone was among the individuals whom President Trump pardoned following his November election loss. Stone was previously convicted over his role in the Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election.
The release of the footage comes a week before Trump’s second impeachment trial is set to begin, which stems from the former president’s involvement in inciting the mob that attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.
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