Roger Stone emails Steve Bannon to discuss a plan to win the election, just hours after Bannon is named the new campaign manager. According to Bannon, that plan involves WikiLeaks.
“Trump can still win — but time is running out,” Stone writes. “Early voting begins in six weeks. I do know how to win this but it ain’t pretty. Campaign has never been good at playing the new media. Lots to do — let me know when u (sic) can talk.”
Bannon writes back “Let’s talk ASAP.”
The following exchange between prosecutors and Steve Bannon takes place in court on November 8, 2019. Read the “emptywheel” link below for more.
Q. When Mr. Stone wrote to you, “I do know how to win this but it ain’t pretty,” what in your mind did you understand that to mean?
A. Well, Roger is an agent provocateur, he’s an expert in opposition research. He’s an expert in the tougher side of politics. And when you’re this far behind, you have to use every tool in the toolbox.
Q. What do you mean by that?
A. Well, opposition research, dirty tricks, the types of things that campaigns use when they have got to make up some ground.
Q. Did you view that as sort of value added that Mr. Stone could add to the campaign?
A. Potentially value added, yes.
Q. Was one of the ways that Mr. Stone could add value to the campaign his relationship with WikiLeaks or Julian Assange?
A. I don’t know if I thought it at the time, but he could — you know, I was led to believe that he had a relationship with WikiLeaks and Julian Assange.
External Sources
Stone Jury Trial, Day 4, Transcript
Photo: Gage Skidmore (Cropped & Color Edited)