WASHINGTON - Roger Stone, a longtime advisor and consultant to President Donald Trump, has been arrested by federal authorities in Florida.

There was a media circus outside a Florida courthouse Friday as Stone was released on $250,000 bond.

He was arrested in a predawn raid by the FBI.

Stone is charged in a seven-count indictment stemming from Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. He is charged with obstructing an investigation, making false statements and witness tampering.

The filing alleges that Stone was contacted by a senior Trump campaign official about damaging information on Hillary Clinton's campaign that came from the WikiLeak hacks.

Investigators say he then lied about contacts when he appeared before a House committee.

Stone said he will plead not guilty and defeat the charges in court.

"I believe this is a politically motivated investigation," Stone said Friday. "Under no circumstances whatsover will I testify against the president."