Federal judge is considering a gag order in Stone case

WASHINGTON — The federal judge overseeing the criminal case against Roger Stone, a longtime friend of President Donald Trump, said Friday that she is considering whether to impose a gag order after Stone went on a weeklong media blitz to discuss the allegations against him.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told prosecutors and Stone’s attorneys to file any opposition to such a directive by next Friday. Stone, a political operative who relishes media attention, has said he worries about a possible gag order because his career is in speaking and writing.

Jackson’s comment came as Stone returned to federal court in Washington on Friday for a scheduling hearing after he pleaded not guilty this week to charges in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

The judge said Stone might have been justified in making his position clear after his arrest, but she added that she needed to ensure that he receives a fair trial.

“This is a criminal proceeding, not a public relations campaign,” Jackson said, threatening to cut off public comments by parties and attorneys about the case. “I believe it’s better for counsel and parties to do their talking in pleadings, not on courthouse steps, not on the talk show circuit.”

Stone, 66, a longtime GOP operative and self-described “dirty trickster,” entered court wearing a charcoal gray suit with broad pinstripes and a billowing paisley pocket square. He sat with two lawyers to his right at the defendant’s table.

After the hearing, he declined to tell a reporter what he thought of a potential gag order.

“They told me no interviews in the building,” he said, grinning.

Stone is charged with lying about his efforts to gather information concerning hacked Democratic Party emails that were published by the WikiLeaks organization. Stone has pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the charges.

A gag order would not be entirely surprising; Jackson issued such a directive during Mueller’s prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which was a similarly high-profile case. But muzzling Stone might be more consequential.

Prosecutors charge that in 2016, Stone repeatedly sought to learn when potentially damaging internal emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign would be released. Those actions may not constitute a crime, but Stone is accused of lying to Congress when asked about the efforts. He also is charged with obstruction and witness tampering.