Self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” Roger Stone is back in trouble after violating judge’s gag order.
What We Know:
- Roger Stone, a longtime associate of Donald Trump, was indicted by special counselor Robert Mueller earlier this year for lying to Congress, obstruction, and witness tampering. These charges stem from the testimony Stone gave when Mueller was investigating Russian interference in the last presidential election.
- CNN reported that Stone allegedly sought out stolen emails from WikiLeaks that could damage Trump’s opponents while in coordination with senior Trump campaign officials. Stone pled not guilty to the charges.
- In addition to those charges, Stone was ordered not to discuss his case with anyone.
- Stone was back in court today because he violated the terms of his gag order. Stone has posted about his case several times on social media and even talked directly to reporters. One statement in violation, is an Instagram post where he criticized the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, NPR reported. He has also reposted stories about his case on his accounts.
- Federal prosecutor Jonathan Kravis said Stone’s actions “clearly violate” the order. He argued that Stone’s actions had the potential to taint the jury pool of his upcoming November trial.
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U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed. She increased the restriction on Stone’s gag order, prohibiting him from using social media sites including Facebook, Twitter or Instagram in any capacity. Stone cannot like, re-post, forward or share anything on social media.
We’ll see if he listens this time.
