GOP rep calls for investigation into whether officials tipped off media to Roger Stone’s arrest

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) is calling for an investigation into whether federal law enforcement officials leaked details about the indictment and arrest of Roger Stone, a longtime Republican strategist and ally of President Trump, to the media.

Biggs in a letter written to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz on Friday questioned how CNN could have known the time and location where Stone’s arrest took place without receiving the information in advance. 

“On January 25th, FBI agents executed an arrest warrant on Roger Stone pursuant to a grand jury indictment in the District of Columbia. At approximately 5:59 a.m. CNN’s morning show ‘New Day’ posted a tweet with a video showing FBI agents in full tactical gear executing the arrest of Mr. Stone,” he wrote.

“It is hard to believe that this reporter and camera crew showed up at the home of Mr. Stone, on the right day at the right time, on a hunch. This leads me to believe that CNN may have received advance notice of the date and time of the arrest.”

Biggs argued a leak to the media from a federal official would be “highly inappropriate” and “damaging to the credibility” of the FBI. The bureau’s director, Christopher Wray, was also copied on the letter.

“An arrest like this is a serious act, not a media spectacle,” Biggs continued. “We ask that you investigate whether federal law enforcement officers leaked information about the arrest of Mr. Stone to members of the media in advance and what — if any — rules, regulations, court orders, or laws were broken in the process.”

The Arizona Republican requested the agency provide information on whether wrongdoing took place on the part of law enforcement officials by Feb. 15.

CNN has said a producer and photojournalist were “staking out” Stone’s home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., because of special counsel Robert Mueller’s activity over the preceding week.  

Stone — who faces seven charges, including five counts of making false statements — was arrested on Friday morning in connection with Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference. Stone said Friday he plans to plead not guilty, but has not ruled out cooperating with the special counsel.

“If there’s wrongdoing by other people in the campaign that I know about — which I know of none — but, if there is, I would certainly testify honestly,” Stone said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “I would also testify honestly about any other matter, including any communications with the president. It’s true that we spoke on the phone, but those communications are political in nature.”

He is slated to be arraigned in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.