On Friday, President Donald Trump’s longtime associate Roger Stone was indicted in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Soon after the FBI raided Stone’s apartment, his lawyer, Grant Smith, issued a statement denying Stone’s culpability.

“There was no Russian collusion, it’s a clear attempt at silencing Roger,” the statement read. “This was an investigation they started as about Russian collusion and now they’re charging Roger Stone with lying to Congress about something he honestly forgot about, and as Roger has stated publicly before, he will fight the charges.

“Roger Stone is vindicated by the fact there was no Russian collusion,” Smith added in a statement to CNN.

NEW: Attorney for Roger Stone responds to indictment in Mueller probe on charges of obstruction, false statements, and witness tampering: “There was no Russian collusion, it’s a clear attempt at silencing Roger…He will fight the charges.” https://t.co/pWCjJPOcLT pic.twitter.com/jS3nijDEVT

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 25, 2019

JUST IN from @SaraMurray from Stone’s attorney:

“Roger Stone is vindicated by the fact there was no Russian collusion,” Smith added in a statement to CNN.

He said Stone’s misstatements were due to forgetfulness and were “immaterial”

— Allie Malloy (@AlliemalCNN) January 25, 2019

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