U.S. judge mulls gag order on talkative Trump adviser Stone
WASHINGTON - A U.S. judge said on Friday she is considering imposing a gag order on President Donald Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone, who has spoken numerous times to news organizations in the week since he was charged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the ongoing Russia investigation.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said during a hearing in Washington she is considering a gag order on both Stone and the prosecution. The judge cited a number of "extrajudicial statements by the defendant" and noted that "this is a criminal proceeding and not a public relations campaign."
Stone was charged with making false statements to Congress, obstruction of an official proceeding and witness tampering in an indictment secured by Mueller, who is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election and whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow.
Jackson said if she did impose a gag order, Stone would still be able to talk to the media about issues unrelated to Muller's criminal case against him. The judge gave both sides until Feb. 8 to file briefs on whether they would oppose such an order.
Stone can "discuss foreign relations, immigration or Tom Brady as much as he wants to," the judge said, referring to the star New England Patriots quarterback.
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