Ex-Trump Advisor Freed on Bail after Indictment in Mueller Probe

Local Editor

Roger Stone, a longtime advisor to US President Donald Trump, was arrested Friday on charges relating to the investigation into possible collusion between the president's election campaign and Russia.

Stone was taken into custody by heavily armed police in a predawn raid at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after an indictment was unsealed in Washington by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

He appeared in Fort Lauderdale court in handcuffs charged with seven counts, including obstruction of justice, making false statements to Congress and witness tampering.

The cuffs were removed from the 66-year-old veteran Republican political consultant as he posted $250,000 bail.

"I will plead not guilty to these charges. I will defeat them in court. I believe this is a politically-motivated investigation," Stone said as he emerged from court.

The White House rejected suggestions that the noose was getting tighter around Trump, who has denied any collusion with Russia.

"This has nothing to do with the president and certainly nothing to do with the White House," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told CNN.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team