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Roger Stone spared jail over crosshairs-on-judge post | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Long-time Trump confidant Roger Stone has been spared jail after posting a photo of gun crosshairs over a judge. | |
But Judge Amy Berman Jackson slapped Mr Stone with a strict gag order that bars him from public comment on his case. | But Judge Amy Berman Jackson slapped Mr Stone with a strict gag order that bars him from public comment on his case. |
Mr Stone had posted on Instagram an image of a gun sight over the judge, calling the proceedings a "show trial". | Mr Stone had posted on Instagram an image of a gun sight over the judge, calling the proceedings a "show trial". |
The ex-Trump campaign adviser was arrested in January in Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. | The ex-Trump campaign adviser was arrested in January in Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. |
Mr Stone told the court that he thought the crosshairs in the picture he posted of Judge Jackson on Monday actually depicted a Celtic cross. | |
"I am kicking myself over my own stupidity but not more than my wife is kicking me," said the self-proclaimed dirty trickster. | |
But Judge Jackson said: "There's nothing ambiguous about crosshairs." | |
Mr Stone told the judge. "I can only say I'm sorry. It was a momentary lapse in judgment. Perhaps I talk too much." | |
But the judge said she believed the apology only came from his lawyers and "rings quite hollow". | |
Judge Jackson also said the defendant "could not even keep his story straight on the stand". | |
She told Mr Stone: "Today, I gave you a second chance. This is not baseball, you don't get a third chance." | |
Judge Jackson last week imposed a partial gag order on Mr Stone, barring him and his attorneys from making any statements that could prejudice the case against him. | |
Thursday's stricter gag order bans him from doing radio, television or print interviews about the case or any participants in it. | |
But Judge Jackson did not revoke Mr Stone's $250,000 (£191,000) release bond for the Instagram stunt. | |
Mr Stone is charged with seven counts, including lying to Congress about his communications with Wikileaks and witness tampering. |