Roger Stone will judge Thursday after posts on Instagram



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The long-standing Republican political agent and so-called "trickster" faces a federal judge who wants to settle his recent antics pending his trial. Two articles he published on Instagram on Monday could jeopardize his ability to remain in jail and the room for maneuver he has to speak publicly about his case.

The first message was a photo of Judge Amy Berman Jackson with what appeared to be the line of sight of a rifle fired behind her head. Stone's legend, calling special advocate Robert Mueller "legendary", said his case was a "summary trial" and that it implied that Jackson had a bias as Obama's appointee and that she had ruled on a case related to Benghazi and incarcerated Paul Manafort. "#Fixisin," Stone added to his message.

Shortly after, he replaced the message with a cropped image of Jackson, this time with the cut-out reticle. He also slightly modified the text on Mueller and added some additional hashtags.

Then the mail was pulled.

"Mr. Stone acknowledged the irregularity and had it removed," his legal team told the judge in a "notice of apology" filed in court late Monday, a federal holiday.

On Instagram, Stone gave an additional explanation. He said the photo was chosen randomly on the Internet and that he had no intention of threatening the judge or disrespecting the court.

Jackson weighed the next day, calling Stone in court to explain why the position should not affect his release conditions or his gag order. One of the conditions that followed his arrest is that he can not attempt to intimidate other people, including judges and other members of the judiciary.

The Justice Ministry prepares the Mueller report as early as next week

If Jackson determines that Stone violated the terms of his release, the most serious consequences that Stone may suffer are: being prosecuted for other crimes such as obstructing justice and being sentenced to penalty of imprisonment or a fine.

Jackson has already taken this path. In the criminal case against Stone 's long – time colleague, Paul Manafort, Jackson revoked Manafort' s bail and sent him to prison eight months after his arrest because prosecutors lodged him with the bail. accused of wanting to look for witnesses.

Manafort, the former Donald Trump campaign president, was under house arrest. Stone has a less restrictive bond that currently allows him to travel to Washington, DC, New York and his home in South Florida.

Jackson has already warned Stone personally and in writing that he should not violate his bail conditions nor draw too much attention to himself with his statements in the media. She ordered him not to speak in the federal courthouse and close to it, because of the activity of the courts in his case that drew the crowd and the way he stirs his supporters.

Meeting with Amy Berman Jackson: the judge in charge of the Stone and Manafort cases

Stone's lawyers had pleaded for him to keep the opportunity to talk broadly about his case and his policy. Writing and speaking in public were essential elements of Stone's identity, they said.

In late January, the Justice Department accused Stone of lying to congressional investigators for his efforts to contact WikiLeaks, while he was trying to help Hillary Clinton to harm the Trump campaign in 2016 He also faces charges of obstructing and manipulating witnesses. Until now, Jackson has been particularly sensitive to the allegation of intimidation of witnesses, repeatedly reminding Stone that he could not contact potential witnesses in his case.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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