An associate of Donald Trump has been jeered and booed as he protested his innocence after leaving a court, having been freed on bail.

Roger Stone was arrested and charged as part of the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

The office for Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Stone was charged on seven counts - and stands accused of making false statements, witness tampering, and obstructing an official proceeding.

In chaotic scene outside court in Florida after he was released on $250,000 (£190,000) bail, some in the crowd shouted "lock him up".

'I'm innocent': Stone booed by Florida crowd

Stone told reporters he was not guilty and "looked forward to being fully and completely vindicated".


He said: "Donald Trump is one of my oldest friends and i am a fervent supporter of him and I think he's doing a great job of making America great again."

Stone was detained in Florida and did not enter a plea when he appeared in court on Friday.

He also told reporters 29 FBI agents had "terrorised his wife and dogs" during the arrest.

Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow restricted his travel, telling him he could not travel outside of South Florida, Washington DC and New York City.

Stone was also told he could not have any contact with any witnesses.

Image: Several advisers to Mr Trump have been arrested and charged

His lawyer did not contest a request from prosecutors for Stone to undergo a drug test.

Stone - who was the focus of a Netflix documentary in 2017 about the unlikely rise of Mr Trump from a businessman to the presidency - has been under scrutiny for several months, but has maintained his innocence.

Included among the charges are details of conversations Stone had about stolen Democrat emails posted by WikiLeaks in the weeks before the election.

The emails, belonging to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, are said to have been hacked by Russian intelligence officers.

Image: Special Counsel Robert Mueller is heading up the Russia probe into possible collusion

Stone is the latest in an increasing line-up of Trump advisers who have been arrested and charged since the Republican took office in January 2017.

Among them is former election campaign chief Paul Manafort, who in September pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Ten other counts were dropped as part of a plea deal to co-operate with the Russia investigation.

Image: Former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort is co-operating with the Russia investigation

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about conversations with Sergei Kislyak, then Russian ambassador in Washington.

He was due to be sentenced in December, but it was delayed so that he could also continue to help the investigation.

Image: Michael Flynn was national security adviser to Mr Trump

Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for Mr Trump, is another ex-ally who has agreed to work with Mr Mueller.

Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and fined nearly $2m (£1.5m) after admitting lying about campaign finance - including paying hush-money to porn star Stormy Daniels - and committing tax and bank fraud.

According to his adviser, Cohen has postponed giving evidence to Congress because the president has threatened him and his family.

Image: Michael Cohen was sentenced in New York

Last February, a former Trump campaign deputy pleaded guilty to conspiring against the US government.

Political consultant Rick Gates, 46, also admitted to lying to the FBI as part of the Russian investigation and filing false paperwork with the Justice Department related to Ukrainian lobbying in November 2016 and February 2017.

Gates, the father of four young children, faces up to six years in prison.

Image: Rick Gates was charged with several offences in October 2017 as part of the investigation

The first to plead guilty in the Mueller probe was George Papadopoulos, a former campaign aide who also admitted he had lied to the FBI over possible collusion with Moscow.

He was sentenced to 14 days behind bars and was also given a £7,300 ($9,500) fine and community service, and was told he would spend a year on parole.

Image: George Papadopoulos was jailed for 14 days

Mr Trump is yet to comment on the latest arrest, but the president has frequently disparaged the Russia investigation as a "witch-hunt".

Stone has also publicly criticised the inquiry.