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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Venue changed for controversial indicted Trump adviser’s visit to Ocala

The Ocala venue for a visit this week by an indicted ex-political adviser to President Trump has been changed.

Roger Stone prepares to speak to members of Villagers for Trump in The Villages in April.

Roger Stone, who is under indictment on charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller during his Russian collusion probe, will be at the Ocala Shrine Club, located at 4301 SE Maricamp Road, on Wednesday, Aug. 21 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Stone originally was scheduled to speak at the Pasta Faire restaurant in Belleview but the venue was changed because of limited seating at the eatery.

Stone will speak to members of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee during a luncheon meeting. He also will be selling and signing copies of his newest book, “The Myth of Russian Collusion: The Inside Story of How Donald Trump REALLY Won,” which was released in February. The book is a follow-up to his 2016 work titled, “The Making of the President 2016: How Donald Trump Orchestrated a Revolution.”

Roger Stone says he first encouraged Donald Trump to run for president in 1988, and again in 2002 and 2012. And he said he’ll continue to support him no matter the outcome of his November trial.

Stone, who also worked on campaigns for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and Bob Dole, has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges brought against him and is awaiting a Nov. 5 trial, where he could face up to 50 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.

Stone is no stranger to the Central Florida area, having twice visited The Villages. His most recent stop in the mega-retirement community came in April when he spoke to members of Villagers for Trump, a grassroots organization that formed a little more than a year ago and now boasts more than 1,700 members. At the full-house gathering, Stone, who is forbidden by a gag order from discussing his indictment or Mueller’s investigation, said he needs to raise $2 million to mount a solid defense as he fights the charges against him. His fund, Stonedefensefund.com, topped $100,000 earlier this year

Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Trump, is facing a November trial on charges of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and making false statements to Congress.

“I pled not guilty and I will be vindicated,” he said. “But that takes a herculean and most expensive effort.”

Stone blamed some of his woes on the mainstream media, saying they had been predicting for two years that he would be indicted for treason, conspiracy or colluding with Russia – all charges he isn’t facing. But he added that regardless of the outcome of his trial, one thing won’t change.

“As I have for the last 40 years, I stand with President Donald Trump,” he said. “Donald Trump will never quit trying to make America great again and I will never quit trying to clear my name.”

Roger Stone tackled a wealth of topics while speaking to members of Villagers for Trump in April, ranging from his legal defense fund to voter fraud to the Democratic candidates who might seek their party’s nomination for the 2020 presidential election.