Senate panel subpoenas Roger Stone associate for Russia probe

The Senate Intelligence Committee has issued a subpoena to Randy Credico, the man claimed by former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone to have been his back channel to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

An attorney for Credico confirmed that his client was served with a subpoena on Tuesday calling for his appearance before the committee on Oct. 5. The document also included a demand for documents that the committee previously made in a letter requesting a voluntary appearance from Credico. Martin Stolar, Credico’s attorney, said in an email they are “still considering our options and have made no firm decision about a response.”

{mosads}Credico, who has denied contacting Assange on Stone’s behalf but has interviewed the WikiLeaks chief before, indicated to The Hill that he is considering testifying, but that it would need to happen in an open setting, not behind closed doors.

A previous subpoena last year from the House Intelligence Committee, which ended its investigation without interviewing Credico, resulted in the New York-based comedian declaring that he would assert his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Credico told the panel at the time that he would testify if offered immunity, but no deal ever materialized. He has, however, submitted testimony to Robert Mueller’s ongoing special counsel investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia’s election interference.

The Senate subpoena requests any documents pertaining to his communications with DCLeaks, Guccifer 2.0, Stone and Assange. It also requests any communications related to “derogatory information” on President Trump’s 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, and any communications related to Russia’s election interference efforts.

Credico told Mother Jones earlier Friday that he had ignored a request from Stone to pay his legal fees, and suspected that Stone was hoping he would not contradict the longtime Trump adviser’s statements to investigators.

“He knew that I was upset,” Credico told the website. “He wanted me to be quiet. He wanted me to go along with his narrative. He didn’t want me talking to the press and saying what I was saying.”

Stone has not been charged with a crime related to the 2016 election, but has told associated that he expects to be charged under the Mueller investigation, which has subpoenaed several of his allies.

— Morgan Chalfant contributed to this report, which was updated on Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.