Stone apologizes to judge for post
He says ‘crosshairs’ image wasn’t meant as a threat
WASHINGTON — Roger Stone, a Republican operative and Trump confidante, apologized Thursday for an Instagram post criticizing the judge overseeing his criminal case, taking the stand at a hearing held on whether his freedom or ability to speak to the media should be constrained.
“I’m sorry that I abused your trust,” Stone told Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington. “I’m heartfully sorry ... I can only beseech you to give me a second chance.”
Stone, 66, said the “lapse of judgment was an outgrowth of the extreme stress of the situation.” He said facing criminal charges for the first time has severely stressed him emotionally and financially.
Both Jackson and prosecutor Jonathan Kravis grilled Stone on how he found the image and why he posted it. Stone gave inconsistent answers, saying first that a volunteer posted it, then that a volunteer sent him the image, but he posted. He said he can’t remember who gave him the picture or the names of everyone with access to his phone.
“How hard is it to find an image without crosshairs?” Jackson asked.
“I didn’t recognize it as a crosshairs — I didn’t even notice it until it was brought to my attention by a reporter,” Stone said. He said he believes it was a “Celtic cross” or “occult symbol,” based on subsequent research.
“It was improper for me to criticize at all. I recognize that,” he said.
Asked for elaboration on the symbol, he replied, “I don’t know your honor; I’m not into the occult.”
Jackson asked Stone why, if he immediately regretted the posting, he defended it in media interviews.
“I felt the media was falsely saying that I was posing a danger which was not my intention, and this was not a crosshairs in my opinion,” Stone responded. “I had no malicious intention.”