As prosecutors in Washington D.C. assemble a case that could lead to Roger Stone’s indictment in connection with Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, Stone found a friendly audience in a group of the president’s most hardcore supporters at the monthly meeting of Americans for Trump – Broward, according to club president Scott Newmark.

The Americans for Trump event at Gallupi’s in Pompano Beach, Florida, provided Stone an opportunity to tell his “side of the story” before an audience of more than 300. Sporting a pale-blue handkerchief, prominently sprouting from the chest pocket of his double-breasted gray suit – Stone described what he perceived as biased, fake and unfair news coverage regarding his alleged involvement in the Mueller probe.

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his team of investigators are seeking to determine whether Stone is linked to WikiLeaks and the release of Democratic party emails hacked by the Russians. Stone has denied wrongdoing and despite a collection of circumstantial clues, no clear evidence has been made public to indicate otherwise.

“That was vodka, but not Russian vodka, to be clear,” Stone assures the cheering audience while pausing a moment to sip his drink through a cocktail straw. Before the Americans for Trump – Broward – he is seen an authentic emissary for Donald J. Trump – a president they idolize – regardless of any investigation.

A seasoned political operative, speaker, pundit, and New York Times bestselling author featured in the Netflix documentary “Get me Roger Stone” – Stone is a veteran of ten national presidential campaigns. He served as a senior campaign aide to four Republican presidents; including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Donald J. Trump. Stone also served as Chairman of Donald Trump’s Presidential Exploratory Committee in 2000 and as a Strategic Consultant in 2012. Stone’s ties to Trump date back more than four decades – longer than any of the president’s other advisors.

Courting controversy and embracing his reputation as a dirty trickster, Stone has spent the last four decades tapdancing between fame and infamy. Now the Mueller probe has forced him into an unusual position. Instead of claiming credit for being a conduit for WikiLeaks, which published thousands of emails stolen from Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election, Stone has denied any involvement. He has steadfastly denied breaking any laws.

“I’ve always made it clear that I practice hardball politics, but I draw the line at breaking the law,” Stone told the Los Angeles Times in an interview after his speech.

All photos courtesy of Americans For Trump – Broward