Page:Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.pdf/545

 As mentioned above, Stone, Tarrio and another Proud Boy leader, Ethan Nordean, addressed an impromptu rally in Washington, DC on the night of December 11, 2020. Owen Shroyer, an InfoWars host, was also with them. "We will fight to the bitter end for an honest count of the 2020 election," Stone told the crowd. "Never give up, never quit, never surrender, and fight for America!" A few weeks later, on January 2, 2021, Tarrio led a Proud Boys protest outside of Senator Marco Rubio's home in Florida. The Proud Boys wanted to convince Rubio to vote against certification of the vote on January 6th. Stone reportedly called into the event to speak to Tarrio's crowd.

One way in which Stone maintained these contacts was through a Signal chat group named "F.O.S."—or Friends of Stone. Two days after the election, Stone sent a text: "We provide information several times a day. So please monitor the F.O.S. feed so you can act in a timely fashion." Ali Alexander and Stone continued to coordinate about Stop the Steal strategy and events between the election and January 6th. In addition to Alexander, Stone's "Friends" on the Signal chat included Rhodes and Tarrio.

In July 2020, President Trump granted Stone clemency after he was convicted of lying to Congress and other charges. Then, on December 23rd, President Trump pardoned Stone. Several days later, at a dinner on the evening of December 27th, Stone thanked President Trump. In a post on Parler, Stone wrote that he "thanked President Trump in person tonight for pardoning me" and also recommended to the President that he "appoint a special counsel" to stop "those who are attempting to steal the 2020 election through voter fraud." Stone also wrote that he wanted "to ensure that Donald Trump continues as our president." Finally, he added: "#StopTheSteal" and "#rogerstonedidnothingwrong." The Select Committee has learned that Stone discussed the January 6th event with the President, likely at this same dinner on December 27th. The President told Stone he "was thinking of speaking."

The Select Committee sought to question Roger Stone about his relationships with President Trump and far-right extremists, as well as other issues. During his deposition, Stone invoked his Fifth Amendment right nearly 90 times. Stone has publicly stated that he committed no wrongdoing and that he encouraged a peaceful protest.

Nick Fuentes is an online provocateur who leads a white nationalist movement known as "America First," or the "Groypers." Fuentes immediately responded to President Trump's "be wild" tweet. On December 19, 2020,