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Good morning 
We’re back again reporting from Day 6 of Roger Stone’s trial in federal court.
In a few minutes the court will be going over details of jury instructions.
Then at 1 PM, both sides deliver closing arguments.
The jury might begin deliberating this afternoon.
We’re back again reporting from Day 6 of Roger Stone’s trial in federal court.
In a few minutes the court will be going over details of jury instructions.
Then at 1 PM, both sides deliver closing arguments.
The jury might begin deliberating this afternoon.
Yesterday featured testimony by former Trump campaign official Rick Gates.
Gates told the court he knew Trump and Roger Stone discussed advance knowledge of Wikileaks plans to release hacked DNC emails.
More details in our court thread from yesterday: https://twitter.com/GonzoNewsNinja/status/1194258778226675712?s=20
Gates told the court he knew Trump and Roger Stone discussed advance knowledge of Wikileaks plans to release hacked DNC emails.
More details in our court thread from yesterday: https://twitter.com/GonzoNewsNinja/status/1194258778226675712?s=20
Judge Jackson is not yet in the courtroom. Roger Stone and his attorneys have been quietly conferring at their table. US federal prosecutors are also present along with a few supporters of Stone and other courtroom observers.
Yesterday it became clear that Roger Stone's legal team isn't mounting much of a defense. They didn't call any defense witnesses at all. In arguments to the judge away from the jury, Stone's counsel again insisted that they did not accept that Russia was behind the DNC hack.
Judge Jackson just entered the courtroom. #StoneTrial is now back in session for Day 6.
Roger Stone appears tired but also wide-eyed and concerned.
Judge Jackson is giving both the prosecution and the defense a copy of an email she says she received from a juror. The juror is "unwell and unable to be here"
Judge Jackson proposes rotating in alternate juror #1 so that the case can proceed without delay, despite the sick juror. Prosecution and defense both agree that that's fine.
Judge Jackson is now going over jury instructions. Says most all of them are "standard" and already agreed to by both parties.
Judge Jackson is going over more rudimentary details of jury instructions regarding how jurors should regard the evidence. Jurors will also be instructed that the indictment against Stone is not evidence of guilt in and of itself.
Judge Jackson is now talking about jury instructions regarding credibility of witnesses & whether jurors can find witnesses less credible because they think they gave inconsistent testimony.
Jackson indicates this probably won't fly for Gates' testimony, but might for Credico.
Jackson indicates this probably won't fly for Gates' testimony, but might for Credico.
Roger Stone was trying real hard to appear interested in these proceedings at first, but appears to have given up, rolling his eyes and swiveling back and forth slightly in his chair. He had his arms crossed and is now stroking his neck and chin.
Judge Jackson is now going over "conflicting versions" of jury instructions regarding "witnesses with plea agreements."
Jackson says she's going with the standard issue version of this instruction.
Jackson says she's going with the standard issue version of this instruction.
Judge Jackson is including jury instructions about the right of the defendant to not testify, at the request of the defense.
This just means that jurors should understand that Stone choosing not to testify doesn't necessarily mean he's guilty.
This just means that jurors should understand that Stone choosing not to testify doesn't necessarily mean he's guilty.
Judge Jackson discussing details about definition of "concealment" in the jury instructions regarding charges against Stone.
"It's the effort, it's not the success...It is the endeavor that is the alleged crime, the govt does not need to prove that the endeavor was successful."
"It's the effort, it's not the success...It is the endeavor that is the alleged crime, the govt does not need to prove that the endeavor was successful."
This last detail is pretty key to the #StoneTrial. Stone doesn't need to have had a "back channel" to Wikileaks at all to be found guilty.
Jurors just need to believe that he knowingly lied.
Jurors just need to believe that he knowingly lied.
Judge Jackson now discussing jury instructions re "state of mind" of the defendant, says it's standard boilerplate stuff.
Stone again trying to appear interested but seems bored. He's trying to whisper to one of his lawyers right now, who isn't listening to him.
Stone again trying to appear interested but seems bored. He's trying to whisper to one of his lawyers right now, who isn't listening to him.
It seems like Judge Jackson is about to wrap up these proceedings to clarify the jury instructions. Now talking about a new "verdict form" format
Judge Jackson is now reviewing the defense's proposed edits to the transcript of the scene from 'Godfather II' that will be provided to the jury to contextualize allegedly threatening messages Stone sent to Randy Credico.
Judge Jackson says she has issues with the transcript of The Godfather scene provided to jurors including adjectives like "confidently"
Looks like Judge Jackson is about to end court for a few hours until closing arguments in the #StoneTrial at 1 PM.
Judge Jackson just left the courtroom.
#StoneTrial will reconvene at 1 PM - both sides will deliver closing arguments before the case then goes to the jury.
#StoneTrial will reconvene at 1 PM - both sides will deliver closing arguments before the case then goes to the jury.
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and 3 other people with him recently showed up at #StoneTrial & have been sitting in the back of the courtroom.
Tarrio attended the neo-nazi 'Unite The Right' rally in Charlottesville and also works as the Florida director of 'Latinos for Trump'
Tarrio attended the neo-nazi 'Unite The Right' rally in Charlottesville and also works as the Florida director of 'Latinos for Trump'
Tarrio and other Proud Boys are very close with Roger Stone (Stone has also been 'initiated' as a first-degree Proud Boy.)
The Proud Boys idolize Chilean fascist dictator Augusto Pinochet, and celebrate his practice of murdering leftists by dropping them out of helicopters.
The Proud Boys idolize Chilean fascist dictator Augusto Pinochet, and celebrate his practice of murdering leftists by dropping them out of helicopters.
In 2018 the Proud Boys began making/selling and wearing shirts that read 'Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong.'
Once Stone was indicted and charged, they also made a line of 'Roger Stone Did Nothing Wrong' shirts in the same vein.
Once Stone was indicted and charged, they also made a line of 'Roger Stone Did Nothing Wrong' shirts in the same vein.
One of the Proud Boys is carrying an alligator claw, US Marshals told him to stop scratching himself with it inside the courtroom.
Enrique Tarrio, known for his involvement in violent incidents and his use of racist and homophobic slurs, recently announced he’s running for local office as a Republican in Florida: https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/proud-boys-leader-enrique-tarrio-announces-2020-run-for-congress-against-donna-shalala-in-florida-27th-district-11310726
