Former Trump adviser Roger Stone finds himself at the center of controversy yet again, as an alleged recording of him discussing a murder plot against Democrat Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Eric Swalwell has emerged. Stone has wasted no time dismissing the recording, labeling it “AI-created clickbait nonsense.”
The alleged plot and Its context
The alleged recording reportedly captures Stone telling his security officer, Sal Greco, that Nadler or Swalwell “has to die” just before the 2020 Presidential election. During that time, both Nadler and Swalwell were members of the House Judiciary Committee, planning an investigation into President Trump’s decision to commute Stone’s 40-month jail sentence for charges including obstruction, witness tampering, and lying to Congress.
Mediaite and reporter Diana Falzone initially revealed the existence of this alleged recording, which was said to have been recorded during a conversation between Stone and Greco at the Caffe Europa in Fort Lauderdale. Stone demanded the release of the recording and questioned its authenticity, asserting, “I never spoke about assassinating anyone.”
Mediaite releases alleged recording
In response to Stone’s demands, Mediaite released a 19-second excerpt from the recording. However, they acknowledged that it had been “lightly edited” to protect their anonymous source, who reportedly feared retaliation from Stone. In the released portion, a voice, purportedly Stone’s, is heard saying, “let’s go find Swalwell and get this over with.” The voice continues, “Either Swalwell or Nadler has to die before the election. They need to get the message. I’m just not putting up with this anymore.”
Roger Stone reacted strongly to the release of the recording, insisting that it was “fake AF” and calling it an “AI fabrication.” He also claimed to know the identity of Mediaite’s anonymous source, alleging a criminal record for prostitution and drug dealing.
Stone, a long-time friend and adviser to Donald Trump, has a history of political involvement dating back to the early 1970s when he worked on Republican presidential campaigns. His name gained notoriety during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In November 2019, Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for charges related to obstruction, witness tampering, and lying to Congress.
Reaction from Nadler and Swalwell
Congressman Jerry Nadler expressed his anger when President Trump commuted Stone’s sentence in July 2020, stating that it infected the judicial system with “partisanship and cronyism” and attacked the rule of law. Ultimately, President Trump granted Stone a full presidential pardon in December 2020, shortly before leaving office.
While Mediaite has not responded to Stone’s accusations that the recording is an AI fake, they have pointed to Stone’s previous calls for violence as documented in the 2023 documentary film “A Storm Foretold.” In one clip, Stone was recorded saying, “F*** the voting, let’s get right to the violence. Shoot to kill, see an antifa, shoot to kill.” He later added, “I am, of course, only kidding. We renounce violence completely. We renounce violence. The left is the only ones who engage in violence.”
Sal Greco, the NYPD officer who was allegedly present during the conversation captured in the recording, has not denied the comments but downplayed their significance. Greco was fired by the NYPD in August 2022 due to his association with Roger Stone.
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