U.S. judge mulls gag order on talkative Trump adviser Stone

[rooster59]

U.S. judge mulls gag order on talkative Trump adviser Stone

By Sarah N. Lynch

 

Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone gives an interview to Reuters in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge said on Friday she is considering imposing a gag order on President Donald Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone, who since being charged a week ago has repeatedly criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the ongoing Russia probe.

 

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said during a hearing in Washington she is considering a gag order for both Stone and the prosecution, citing a number of "extrajudicial statements by the defendant" and noting that "this is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign."

 

Stone was charged with making false statements to Congress, obstruction of an official proceeding and witness tampering in an indictment secured by Mueller, who is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election and whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow.

 

Jackson said if she does impose a gag order, Stone would still be free to talk to the media about issues unrelated to the case. The judge asked both sides to file briefs by Feb. 8 on the possible gag order.

 

Stone can "discuss foreign relations, immigration or Tom Brady as much as he wants to," Jackson said, referring to the star New England Patriots quarterback who will be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

 

Arrested in Florida on Jan. 25, Stone pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Washington.

 

Jackson previously imposed a similar gag order on Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was convicted by a Virginia jury last year on financial wrongdoing charges brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty to separate charges in Washington.

 

Criminal defendants typically shun the media spotlight. But Stone, a 66-year-old self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" and Republican political operative since the days of the Watergate scandal that forced his former boss President Richard Nixon to resign in 1974, has embraced it.

 

Among other things, Stone has told reporters that FBI agents stormed his house at Mueller's behest "to terrorize my wife and my dogs" using more force than U.S. troops used to kill al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and accused the special counsel of running a politically motivated "two-year inquisition."

 

Stone gave a news conference on Thursday hosted by Infowars, the website of U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

 

In a Reuters interview, Stone dismissed the charges as "process crimes" with no intentional lies. "Perjury requires both intent and materiality," Stone said, calling any failure to disclose emails or text messages an "honest mistake."

 

Jackson told Stone his prior comments could come back to bite him, saying Mueller's office "will be free to introduce any of it as evidence." Prosecutor Michael Marando said he may propose an October trial date. Jackson said she hopes the trial can begin in the summer. The next hearing is set for March 14.

 

The indictment accused Stone of telling unidentified members of Trump's 2016 campaign team he had advance knowledge of plans by the WikiLeaks website to release damaging emails - stolen by Russia, according to prosecutors - about Trump's Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

 

Trump denies collusion with Russia. Russia denies election meddling.

 

Stone's indictment refers to two people with whom he is accused of communicating in an effort to get more information about Wikileaks' plans for releases of stolen Democratic emails. Jerome Corsi, a right-wing political commentator and conspiracy theorist, previously confirmed to Reuters he is "Person 1" mentioned in the indictment.

 

"I'm sorry Roger has been talking like he has been. I don't have anything against Roger. He'd be well advised to be more careful," Corsi told Reuters. "... I wish Roger would just say less."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-02

[Tug]

Awww poor roger gonna close his clown act

[Becker]

Why don't they mull a gag order on Trump himself. I think everyone could do with a break from his verbal vomit. 

[Toosetinmyways]

1 hour ago, Becker said:

Why don't they mull a gag order on Trump himself. I think everyone could do with a break from his verbal vomit. 

And Rudy G.

Edited February 2, 2019 by Toosetinmyways
Spelling

[Boon Mee]

That's it. Put a gag order on someone who is trying to defend himself. 

America is truly living through a dystopian Orwellian tragedy. 

[keemapoot]

32 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

That's it. Put a gag order on someone who is trying to defend himself. 

America is truly living through a dystopian Orwellian tragedy. 

Hilarious. George Orwell is probably turning in his grave at the current animal farm-like authoritarian cult of personality occupant of the White House.

[Slip]

37 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

That's it. Put a gag order on someone who is trying to defend himself. 

America is truly living through a dystopian Orwellian tragedy. 

The appropriate place for him to defend himself is in the court room, not on the news/ social media, and you know that as well as anyone else here. 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

That's it. Put a gag order on someone who is trying to defend himself. 

America is truly living through a dystopian Orwellian tragedy. 

Yes this is a tragedy for the USA and its' people, they deserve better then the tragic clown.

[Hanaguma]

They also don't want the details leaked of how the FBI conducted itself when it invaded Stone's home. Hell they sent 27 agents in full combat regalia. Plus armored vehicles, helicopters, and of course CNN just "happened" to be in the neighborhood to record the whole sad incident in all its glory.  Now they want to shut him up. hmmm.....

[Dap]

30 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

They also don't want the details leaked of how the FBI conducted itself when it invaded Stone's home. Hell they sent 27 agents in full combat regalia. Plus armored vehicles, helicopters, and of course CNN just "happened" to be in the neighborhood to record the whole sad incident in all its glory.  Now they want to shut him up. hmmm.....

Pretty sure the FBI conducts all its raids the same way. Nothing special or different about this one. Speed and manpower are used to make sure no one escapes or destroys any possible evidence. They don't have a crystal ball to know exactly what the occupants may do so they take no chances. Nothing illegal about it. In fact, you said "CNN just happened to be there", what's to hide?

[Basil B]

He is squealing like a pig when the slaughter man grabs him by the tail... 

[Kelsall]

42 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

They also don't want the details leaked of how the FBI conducted itself when it invaded Stone's home. Hell they sent 27 agents in full combat regalia. Plus armored vehicles, helicopters, and of course CNN just "happened" to be in the neighborhood to record the whole sad incident in all its glory.  Now they want to shut him up. hmmm.....

They sent more men to arrest Stone than were sent to kill Bin Laden.

[keemapoot]

8 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

They sent more men to arrest Stone than were sent to kill Bin Laden.

They didn't go to kill Stone, they went to prevent him from disposing of evidence by covering every room and possibility. Takes a lot of people to do that and is standard procedure. But then you knew that anyway and that your statement is a false equivalency.

[Hanaguma]

14 minutes ago, Dap said:

Pretty sure the FBI conducts all its raids the same way. Nothing special or different about this one. Speed and manpower are used to make sure no one escapes or destroys any possible evidence. They don't have a crystal ball to know exactly what the occupants may do so they take no chances. Nothing illegal about it. In fact, you said "CNN just happened to be there", what's to hide?

Actually, they don't. Particularly when arresting someone accused of simple process crimes, not violent activity or espionage or other dangerous things. Most of the time, the FBI calls the accused's lawyer and they arrange a pick up. Or a pair of agents knocks on his door. Definitely not a pre-dawn raid with automatic weapons at the ready. 

 

As for CNN, it is obvious that they were tipped by someone. Stone isn't that big a deal to have a film crew outside his house 24 hours a day.  

[Yellowtail]

2 hours ago, Slip said:

The appropriate place for him to defend himself is in the court room, not on the news/ social media, and you know that as well as anyone else here. 

Yes, the news and social media should be reserved for prosecuting him, yes?

[keemapoot]

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

Yes, the news and social media should be reserved for prosecuting him, yes?

The finder of fact at the trial will determine what is true or not and will be instructed to give no consideration whatsoever to the news and social media, so this is another false concern. Stone will get a fair trial. 

[onera1961]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

That's it. Put a gag order on someone who is trying to defend himself. 

America is truly living through a dystopian Orwellian tragedy. 

One cannot start a PR campaign on the same charges after indictment by a grand jury. That is not first amendment. He can talk any other charges. I bet he knows that. And trying to check how far the judge would go.

[farcanell]

56 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

They sent more men to arrest Stone than were sent to kill Bin Laden.

Trump supporters lie, lie, lie and lie some more... all the time... day in, day out.... unbelievably at times, to those not mesmerized by trumps hole.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden

[Kelsall]

History.com reports 25 were sent for Bin Laden.

 

https://www.history.com/news/osama-bin-laden-death-seal-team-six

 

Stone says 29 were sent for him.  The FBI has not contradicted that.

 

 

Edited February 2, 2019 by Kelsall

[Slip]

52 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Yes, the news and social media should be reserved for prosecuting him, yes?

A nonsensical comment.  It will be prosecutors prosecuting him, again as is appropriate.  They will not be trying to cloud the waters in the media or create a trial by public opinion.

[marcusarelus]

5 minutes ago, Slip said:

A nonsensical comment.  It will be prosecutors prosecuting him, again as is appropriate.  They will not be trying to cloud the waters in the media or create a trial by public opinion.

Ya right.  Who ever heard of a VIP like the head of the FBI having a news conference about the guilt or non guilt of the lady who was running for President just before the election.  Nah.  Never happen in America. 

[marcusarelus]

1 hour ago, keemapoot said:

The finder of fact at the trial will determine what is true or not and will be instructed to give no consideration whatsoever to the news and social media, so this is another false concern. Stone will get a fair trial. 

Is there a gag order to stop the FBI leaking information like arrest of Stone?  

[keemapoot]

1 minute ago, marcusarelus said:

Is there a gag order to stop the FBI leaking information like arrest of Stone?  

There is something even better. It's called Voir Dire, and allows defense attorneys to disqualify jurors based on many things, including their exposure to leaked information.

 

So, yes, there are excellent measures in place to protect this precious man Stone.

[Dap]

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Actually, they don't. Particularly when arresting someone accused of simple process crimes, not violent activity or espionage or other dangerous things. Most of the time, the FBI calls the accused's lawyer and they arrange a pick up. Or a pair of agents knocks on his door. Definitely not a pre-dawn raid with automatic weapons at the ready. 

 

As for CNN, it is obvious that they were tipped by someone. Stone isn't that big a deal to have a film crew outside his house 24 hours a day.  

I won't argue the point w/you, but suffice to say, he is actually big enough news for the services to be camping on his doorstep and this is something he enjoys attracting to himself.

[Slip]

1 hour ago, marcusarelus said:

Ya right.  Who ever heard of a VIP like the head of the FBI having a news conference about the guilt or non guilt of the lady who was running for President just before the election.  Nah.  Never happen in America. 

More false equivalency.  Thin soup.

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, Kelsall said:

They sent more men to arrest Stone than were sent to kill Bin Laden.

There was more at stake.

[Yellowtail]

3 hours ago, Slip said:

A nonsensical comment.  It will be prosecutors prosecuting him, again as is appropriate.  They will not be trying to cloud the waters in the media or create a trial by public opinion.

False equivalency. If only the prosecution is prosecuting him, only the defense can defend him, yes?

 

 

[Yellowtail]

4 hours ago, keemapoot said:

They didn't go to kill Stone, they went to prevent him from disposing of evidence by covering every room and possibility. Takes a lot of people to do that and is standard procedure. But then you knew that anyway and that your statement is a false equivalency.

Yes, after two years there must have been a lot of evidence laying around waiting to be destroyed moments after the FBI shows up...

 

Yeah, that's it, a big pile of computer disks and whatnot waiting to be wiped with a giant magnet while the FBI is storming the residence...

 

Hey, and a lot of memos and damaging notes on flash-paper ready to be torched at a moment's notice...

 

[Tug]

Let the clown blabber on he is just digging deeper 

[Dumbastheycome]

5 hours ago, Kelsall said:

They sent more men to arrest Stone than were sent to kill Bin Laden.

Is Bin Laden  dead now?????????