Published 11:57 IST, November 13th 2019
Former 2016 Campaign Official reveals that Donald Trump was aware of WikiLeaks release
Donald Trump aware of WikiLeaks in the 2016 Campaign said Rick Gates, deputy manager of the campaign at the testimony of the trial of Roger Stone on Tuesday
US President Donald Trump was keenly interested in anti-secrecy organisation WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential campaign alleged his deputy manager in the campaign Rick Gates on November 12. He reportedly suggested that Trump himself had more knowledge of the matter than the president has previously claimed. He further said that overheard a phone call in which Stone seemed to make the president aware of a planned WikiLeaks release while testifying at the trial of Roger Stone. Stone posited himself as something of an intermediary between WikiLeaks and the campaign, with access to insider information, testified Gates and other witnesses at the trial. With closing arguments set for 1 PM, Wednesday prosecutors rested the case on Tuesday.
Gate's testimony full of statements that inferred Trump's knowledge of WikiLeaks
Prosecutors seek to prove that Stone lied and sought to obstruct justice. The testimony during the past week has revealed a wealth of information about the campaign's attention to WikiLeaks. Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, had told Gates that the now-President was kept updated on WikiLeaks's plans to release Democratic campaign emails - which authorities concluded were hacked by Russia, revealed Gates. Gates claimed to overhear a phone call between Trump and Stone in late July 2016 in which he said he thought they probably discussed WikiLeaks plans. Trump reportedly hung up on the call.
Gates added that he did not hear what Stone said on the call, which took place when he and Trump were being driven from Trump Tower to LaGuardia Airport in New York. Stone was the only person aware of Trump's link with WikiLeaks at that time, he said. Manafort asked Gates to keep abreast of WikiLeaks' plans and to stay in touch with Stone to check with Stone to make sure the information was still real and viable. Gates said the campaign held brainstorming sessions with spokesman Jason Miller and adviser Stephen Miller, about how it would handle the leaks. His statement opposes Trump's claim of no knowledge of Wikileaks. His knowledge was rather more advanced than he has previously stated. Trump had dismissed the issue in written responses last year to questions from special counsel Robert Mueller, who was investigating Russian interference in the campaign.
Stone's attorneys defend him, denying allegations
On the other hand, Stone's attorneys indicated that they do not plan to call witnesses, but would introduce various pieces of evidence, including audio of his testimony before the House Intelligence Committee. The 67-year-old Trump aide has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress about his efforts to learn more about WikiLeaks releases that could harm Hillary Clinton, Trump's 2016 general-election rival, and to tampering with a witness also called by Congress by trying to get him not to contradict Stone's testimony. His attorneys argued that Stone had never successfully contacted WikiLeaks. They also said that Stone believed WikiLeaks was not relevant to the lawmakers' investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 12:48 IST, November 13th 2019