Topline
Roger Stone, a longtime Republican agent and adviser to Trump, is auctioning off a non-fungible token from a 1990s real estate magazine cover that he says is signed by former President Donald Trump with the caption “To Roger You Are The Greatest!” Politics said is intended to help cover his legal fees and his wife’s medical bills.
Roger Stone, longtime ally of former President Donald Trump (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
Highlights
Stone says in a 54-second video the autographed cover of Real Estate – New York, a now-defunct trade publication, is the one Trump “really loved”, and later became the “standard” portrayal of “virtually everything he did”.
There were no bidders for the NFT on Wednesday afternoon.
The magazine is one of many items in a larger collection of NFT of Stone memorabilia.
Stone is also auctioning off an NFT of a Trump presidential campaign poster from 2000 — one of 100 printed, Stone says.
Stone, 69, said Politics that he is auctioning off Trump’s autograph to help cover the ‘tremendous’ legal bills to ‘defend myself in 6 remaining unmerited but sensationalized civil harassment lawsuits and the J-6 [January 6] Witch Hunt,” in addition to cancer therapies for his wife that aren’t covered by insurance.
If the winning bid for NFT magazine exceeds $20,000, the winner will also receive a physical copy of the article, Stone said.
Stone did not immediately respond to a Forbes request for comment.
Key context
Stone is a longtime political strategist whose connections with Republicans date back to the 1970s. He has known Trump for decades, having lobbied for Trump’s casino business in the 1990s and supporting Trump’s short-lived presidential campaign in 2000. In February 2020, Stone was sentenced to three years and four months in federal prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering, after being charged with attempting to thwart investigations by lawmakers and former special counsel Robert Mueller on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Months later, Trump commuted Stone’s sentence after he repeatedly defended his informal adviser, saying he was a “victim of the Russian hoax,” and just before to leave office, Trump granted Stone and other allies a full pardon. However, Stone’s legal entanglements didn’t end there. Last week, Stone was subpoenaed by a House committee investigating the Capitol riot, with lawmakers saying Stone was in Washington on Jan. 5 and 6 to “lead a march to the Capitol,” and he ” encouraged her participation in rallies and solicited support to pay for security.” Stone says he did not participate in rallies or travel to the Capitol, and said he argued the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination to all questions posed by lawmakers. Meanwhile, seven U.S. Capitol Police officers sued Trump, Stone and members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers in federal court in August, claiming their “unlawful efforts” culminated in the riot. January 6 and the attack on hundreds of police officers.
Tangent
NFTs have exploded in popularity in 2021. Stone isn’t the only Trumpworld figure trying to cash in. blue eyes.”
Large number
$150 million. That’s what auction house Christie’s recouped from NTF sales in 2021, CEO Guillaume Cerutti said in a statement. He credited “new sales formats and categories, NFTS in particular” with contributing to a five-year sales high. Sotheby’s said it sold $100 million worth of NFTs this year.
Further reading
Roger Stone sells an autograph NFT of Trump to pay his legal fees (Politics)
Melania Trump said she partnered with MoonPay for a new NFT line, but the company denies any involvement (Forbes)
January 6 Committee subpoenas Alex Jones and Roger Stone (Forbes)
Hollywood’s NFT Gold Rush: Behind the Hope and Hype (Variety)