FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Faced with gargantuan legal bills and without the deep pockets to pay them, Roger Stone is still raising money for his legal defense _ just days before his federal trial begins.
On Monday evening, Stone was close to his home in Fort Lauderdale, attending a political group's Oktoberfest party, where he defended President Donald Trump, attacked prominent Trump skeptic Mitt Romney and took in a bit more cash for his legal defense fund.
The famously opinionated political operative was quiet about one thing: his own case.
He's under a strict gag order from the judge who will preside over his trial, and he declined to talk about the charges of witness tampering, obstruction and false statements about his interactions related to the release of stolen Democratic Party emails by WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential campaign. The charges were originally brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Stone also declined to talk about how much he's raised and needs for his legal bills. An associate accepted donations and handled book sales Monday night, and Stone said he didn't know how much he raised. Several people who contributed didn't want to say how much they gave.
Altogether, more than 45,000 people nationwide have given to Stone's defense fund. He's raised about two-thirds of his $3 million goal.
Stone arrived shortly before the event started at 5:30 p.m. and stayed more than half an hour past the scheduled end at 7:30. He spoke, sometimes at length, with everyone in the room who wanted to talk, posted for selfies with many, and autographed books.
Stone often brings merchandise, including T-shirts ("Roger Stone Did Nothing Wrong") and autographed rocks (called "Roger Stones") to his events. On Monday, he came only with a carton of one of his books, "Stone's Rules How to Win at Politics, Business, and Style." He sold most of them.
Jack Chesler, of Davie, was among the 75 people who attended. "I respect the man. I think he's been railroaded. What scares me is if it could happen to him, it could happen to you or me," Chesler said. Several people at the event said they believe Mueller went after Stone because of his association with Trump.
"When I realized that Roger was coming, I wanted to meet him," Chesler said. Though he'd never seen Stone before, Chesler said he'd previously made a "modest" donation to Stone's legal defense fund.
Chuck Tiedje, of Fort Lauderdale, said he wanted Stone to know people back him. "He deserves our support. He's been hammered hard by a lot of negative stuff. I wanted him to know we're behind him."
Added Tuula Luostarien of Margate, who bought a Stone-authored book: "I believe in him. I believe his story."
Jerry Pelusio, of Wilton Manors, said he's been a "big supporter" of Trump since the beginning of the president's campaign.
He became a "big supporter" of Stone on Jan. 25, the day he was arrested at his former Fort Lauderdale home _ in a dramatic, televised predawn raid in which federal agents employed a helicopter and an amphibious craft in the canal behind the house.
"He's taken on the full force of the federal government, and he's one man," Pelusio said.
Stone has been a prominent political figure for decades. Stone worked to get Richard Nixon elected president, later worked in the Nixon administration, and has a giant tattoo of Nixon on his back. He's known Trump for four decades and was an early adviser to Trump in his pursuit of the presidency.
His income curtailed since his arrest, he and his wife, Nydia, moved out of the home they rented in the luxury Coral Isles subdivision between downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach and into a one-bedroom apartment.
"When you are in a crisis, you find out who your real friends are. You also find out who your real friends aren't," Stone said.
Monday's gathering, his last in Broward before the trial starts, wasn't a typical political event.
It was an Oktoberfest party sponsored by the Florida Atlantic Conservative Team, founded and run by three former officers of the Broward Republican Party. The event was held at the Josef & Joseph jewelry, watch and clock store on Federal Highway in Oakland Park.
Stone ate sausage and sauerkraut and sipped beer from a pilsner glass.
Stone spoke for nine minutes, devoting most of his speech to the national political scene.
_ Trump praise: Stone described the president as the "great disrupter" and a "brawler, a man who doesn't worry about being politically correct." He said Trump's success produced a "manic drive by the left-wing Democrats and their handmaidens in the mainstream media to remove him."
_ Impeachment warning: Stone said the "drive for impeachment is very real. It is a great danger to this president." As long as polling shows Trump is more popular than Republican senators in their states, Stone said he doesn't see the votes to convict Trump and remove him from office.
_ Romney criticism: Unlike U.S. House and Senate Republicans who offer strong support for the president or don't answer questions; Romney has been sharply critical. When Stone brought up his name, the audience booed.
"I saw the movie Willard the rat," Stone said. (Romney's given name is Willard. The horror movie "Willard" is about a man who befriends rats.)
Stone suggested Romney might be trying to set himself up for another presidential run but said it wouldn't work.
"So, Mitt, there's no market, there's no vacuum and there's no interest. You had two chances. We followed you down the road and you led us to defeat."
