Roger Stone, a longtime GOP operative and informal adviser to President Donald Trump, won’t take the stand in his own defense against perjury charges, according to his attorney.
Defense lawyer Robert Bushel told the court that Stone would not be taking the stand. Instead, the defense plans to play a 50-minute recording of his congressional testimony.
Federal prosecutors say that Stone lied to Congress so that he could stonewall its Russian election-meddling probe.
Stone’s lawyers have argued that he did not intend to provide false information, that he was misled by some lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee.
Prosecutors rested early Tuesday after recalling their first witness, former FBI agent Michelle Taylor.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson said closing arguments will occur Wednesday afternoon before the case heads to the jury.
Stone was targeted by former special counsel Robert Mueller, who was charged with investigating allegations that President Trump colluded with Russia ahead of the 2016 election.
In a report released earlier this year, Mueller said his team found no evidence of collusion.