Washington D.C. – Veteran political operative Roger Stone has publicly called for the prosecution of several prominent figures, including former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, and members of the Special Counsel investigation team, on charges of "seditious conspiracy and treason." The demand was made in a recent tweet by Stone, who is a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump.
"Yes, I think Obama, Biden,Rice, Brennan, Comey,Clapper,McCabe, Mueller, Weissmann ,Rhee, Kravitz and others should be prosecuted for seditious conspiracy and treason," Stone stated in his tweet.
The list of individuals named by Stone includes former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and former Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann. Stone also named Jeannie Rhee and Jonathan Kravis, both of whom served as prosecutors in Stone's own criminal case.
Stone's accusations are part of a recurring theme from the political consultant, who has frequently alleged a "deep state" conspiracy against former President Trump. These claims often center on the origins and conduct of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and alleged ties to the Trump campaign. Recently, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has also made similar calls for the prosecution of Obama-era intelligence officials, citing newly released documents.
In U.S. law, "seditious conspiracy" (18 U.S.C. § 2384) involves two or more persons conspiring to overthrow, put down, or destroy by force the U.S. government, or to oppose its authority by force, or to prevent the execution of any U.S. law by force. The penalty can be up to 20 years in prison. "Treason" (18 U.S.C. § 2381) is defined as levying war against the United States or giving aid and comfort to its enemies. Treason is a rarely prosecuted charge due to its strict constitutional definition, requiring either two witnesses to the same overt act or a confession in open court, and carries a potential death penalty or lengthy imprisonment.
Jeannie Rhee and Jonathan Kravis were part of the prosecution team that secured Stone's conviction in 2019 on charges of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice related to the Russia investigation. Stone's sentence was later commuted by then-President Trump. Stone's tweet reflects a continued effort to challenge the legitimacy of the investigations and legal proceedings that targeted him and other Trump associates.