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You are here: Home / Open Threads / LOCK HIM UP! (Open Thread)

LOCK HIM UP! (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker|  February 21, 20193:16 pm| 136 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Republican Stupidity, Assholes, General Stupidity

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Roger Stone is back before Judge Amy Berman Jackson, trying to explain why she shouldn’t throw his sorry ass in jail. Here’s a tweet from Tierney Sneed, a TPM reporter:

Now we’re discussing how Stone found the image, among two or three of Berman Jackson. Stone said he chose it “just randomly.”

Berman Jackson: “You closed your eyes and picked?”

Doesn’t sound too promising for Stone so far.

In other news, Republican cheater Mark Harris, who stole the NC-9th district House race through election fraud, has conceded that a new election is warranted. Because he’s a cheating cheater who cheated.

Open thread!

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Previous Post: « The Gathering Shit-Storm
Next Post: NC-09 Shenanigans »

Reader Interactions

136Comments

  1. 1.

    debit

    February 21, 2019 at 3:18 pm

    It’s my birthday on Saturday and all I want is Roger Stone in prison. Pretty please!! I’ve been so good!!

  2. 2.

    Wapiti

    February 21, 2019 at 3:19 pm

    Yeah, I thought for an image that he just randomly found on the internet, it was just amazing that it turned out to be his judge. Dude should have spent the rest of the day in a gambling house.

  3. 3.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 3:19 pm

    Tierney Sneed again:

    Stone struggling to name volunteers who help with his social media posting and who may have been involved in this instagram post: “I don’t recall the other. Its a revolving situation.”

  4. 4.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 3:20 pm

    So, question jackals, especially the legal contingent. Would you put Stone in jail?

    ETA: Apart from debit, who is blowing out her birthday candles and crossing her fingers.

  5. 5.

    Jeffro

    February 21, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    Wait…why is this thread not about Jussie Smollett? EVERYTHING ELSE IS, if you ask our national snooze media. Oh my stars and garters, are they ever going nuts over this. It’s like racism doesn’t exist, because you know, Smollett.

    Meanwhile…an officer in the US Coast Guard with enough firepower to wipe out a small city was…planning on wiping out a small city’s worth of liberal politicians and anti-trumpov media types. (yawn) (so boring!) (makes RWNJs touchy just by implication, so better play it down)

    Hoo boy.

    /rant

    Yes, Stone does look like, um, Stone in trying to make these lame excuses. The sooner he’s behind bars and stays there, the better.

  6. 6.

    Roger Moore

    February 21, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:
    Does he think Judge Jackson just fell off the turnip truck? She’s a federal judge and has heard plenty of liars in her time on the bench. People like Stone may be able to bamboozle their acquaintances, but people in the courts hear this stuff all day, every day. They are not going to buy your bullshit.

  7. 7.

    judyinsd

    February 21, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    On Britain Eakin’s tweeter account “Stone is off the witness stand. His defense attorney called his action “indefensible.” ABJ responds: “I agree with you there.” ABJ being the judge in question.

  8. 8.

    Sebastian

    February 21, 2019 at 3:24 pm

    @debit:

    Happy Birthday! We share the same day! Cheers!

  9. 9.

    debit

    February 21, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    @Sebastian: Happy Birthday to us!

  10. 10.

    Wapiti

    February 21, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Given the environment today, I think his posting of his judges picture was intended to be intimidating, at least. There is always a risk of stochastic terrorism; some random nutjob acting on his postings. Since Stone can’t seem to recall the name of the people he allows to post in his name, I think it’s likely best that he completely cut off from social media – that is, jailed.

  11. 11.

    SFAW

    February 21, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Because he’s a cheating cheater who cheated.

    He wouldn’t have, if the Dems hadn’t forced him to. So, once again, it’s all Hitlary’s fault.

  12. 12.

    schrodingers_cat

    February 21, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Do not pass GO, go directly to jail.

  13. 13.

    rikyrah

    February 21, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    put.that.muthaphucka.IN.JAIL.

  14. 14.

    Kay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    Another one:

    A judge ruled Thursday that federal prosecutors — among them, U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta — broke federal law when they signed a plea agreement with a wealthy, politically connected sex trafficker and concealed it from more than 30 of his underage victims.
    U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra, in a 33-page opinion, said that the evidence he reviewed showed that Jeffrey Epstein had been operating an international sex operation in which he and others recruited underage girls — not only in Florida — but from overseas, in violation of federal law.

    It’s a good day for rich and powerful criminals being held accountable, and treated like all other classes of criminals.

    It was a bad idea to coddle them. It’s made them brazen and cocky and they’ll keep committing more and more crimes and then there’s the ancillary corruption! Like Mr. Acosta here. Root and branch.

  15. 15.

    rikyrah

    February 21, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    @debit:

    You ARE good people, and yes, I want that birthday present for debit too :)

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

  16. 16.

    Betty Cracker

    February 21, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    @debit & @Sebastian: Pisces friends! My birthday is tomorrow, and my husband’s was Tuesday. Seems like ALL the best people were born in February!

  17. 17.

    rikyrah

    February 21, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    @Kay:

    I believe he took a bribe for this plea deal.

  18. 18.

    LuciaMia

    February 21, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    has conceded that a new election is warranted.

    What? A Republican admitting that there might have been some hanky-panky going on? Has Hell frozen over?

  19. 19.

    Wapiti

    February 21, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    @Kay: Damn, that ruling is a breath of fresh air.

  20. 20.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    Speaking of locking him up, judge ruled that Federal prosecutors broke the law when they signed some plea agreement with him.

    ie What Kay said.

  21. 21.

    Kay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    Would someone tell the Q people we cracked the child sex trafficking ring and… it’s led us to the Trump Administration?

    They didn’t see that coming I bet. I did, because I knew if they were accusing Clinton of it dollars to doughnuts they were involved themselves.

  22. 22.

    bluehill

    February 21, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    Re: Harris – Not surprising that he throws his own son under the bus, characterizing him as “little judgemental” and having “a little taste of arrogance” as a reason for not listening to him. It’s ironic a baptist “minister” calling someone else judgemental.

  23. 23.

    The Midnight Lurker

    February 21, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    In other news, Republican cheater Mark Harris, who stole the NC-9th district House race through election fraud, has conceded that a new election is warranted.

    Where’s he going to headquarter his new campaign? D Block?

  24. 24.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 21, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: yes.

    @rikyrah: no question.

  25. 25.

    Kay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    I’m amazed they thought they could bury it. That the victims would just go quietly away. Those days are over.

  26. 26.

    SFAW

    February 21, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    So, question jackals, especially the legal contingent. Would you put Stone in jail?

    Disclaimer: not a legal eagle, nor anything approaching one.

    That said: I would only put him in jail if there were no more-reasonable option. Where “more reasonable” is defined as: cat o’ nine tails, flaying, drawing and quartering, or some reasonable facsimile thereof. If prison is the only option, then I’d want him to have various things tattooed prominently on his body, before getting thrown into the pen: things like “All N*****s Suck!”

    My apologies if I’m being too much of a squish.

  27. 27.

    debit

    February 21, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Happy happy birthday!

  28. 28.

    Sebastian

    February 21, 2019 at 3:36 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Happy Birthday Betty! So honored to be in such famous company! Swoon!

    Regards and congrats to the spousal unit, too.

  29. 29.

    J R in WV

    February 21, 2019 at 3:36 pm

    Just asking for a friend — can you run from congress from a prison cell ??

    Because that’s where this SOB should wind up after being warned he was about to commit a felony – by his son the US Attorney for the Eastern District of NC !!!! Holee cow, Batman, Look, a Felony~!!?!!?!!~

  30. 30.

    Betty Cracker

    February 21, 2019 at 3:36 pm

    Speaking of Cheating Mark Harris, it’ll be interesting to see how this shakes out. I don’t think calling for a new election as the cheater is now doing is the way to go. The election board should give the House seat to the Democrat, who didn’t cheat. Why should the Republicans be rewarded with a do-over and the Democrat have to go through another campaign? Nope, cheater goes to jail/pays fine/whatever, non-cheater goes to the House. That seems more like justice to me.

  31. 31.

    Kay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    The decision follows a three-part series published by the Miami Herald in November, “Perversion of Justice,’’ which detailed how federal prosecutors worked in concert with Epstein’s lawyers to arrange the deal.

    Credit to them too. Good job.

  32. 32.

    Sebastian

    February 21, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    @Kay:

    So if the prosecutors broke the law … will they face some sort of consequences?

    What’s really exciting about this is that it closes in on Trump.

  33. 33.

    Brachiator

    February 21, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    In other news, Republican cheater Mark Harris, who stole the NC-9th district House race through election fraud, has conceded that a new election is warranted. Because he’s a cheating cheater who cheated.

    Amazing. Whenever the Democrats are accused of cheating you find that Republicans did the actual cheating.

    Does this dope get to keep his name on the ballot?

  34. 34.

    waspuppet

    February 21, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    I’m not sure what to do about the cheater Mark Harris. On one hand, I don’t want the state GOP to be able to sub in another candidate in the new election, since they might win. On the other, it would mean once and for all that cheating in an election means you don’t win, and until that message seeps in you’re not going to be able to root this cheating out — if the worst that can happen to you is a do-over, that’s not good enough. Unlike Republican cheater Mark Harris and his party, I’m actually tough on actual crime.

  35. 35.

    LuciaMia

    February 21, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    Damn, missed that! Happy Birthday, Miss Betty!

  36. 36.

    janeform

    February 21, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Agree. My birthday is today! Happy birthday.

  37. 37.

    Gretchen

    February 21, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    @Jeffro: Smollett was above the fold, A1 on today’s NYT. Coast Guard terrorist was A-18. It was in local news in the WaPo.

  38. 38.

    Gin & Tonic

    February 21, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    ms like ALL the best people were born in February!

    Truth.

  39. 39.

    The Midnight Lurker

    February 21, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    So, question jackals, especially the legal contingent. Would you put Stone in jail?

    No.

    I’m with Cicero on this one. “Hang all the traitors!”

    And he was a wealthy conservative.

  40. 40.

    debit

    February 21, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    @janeform: Happy birthday! So many Feb babies here today. We all deserve Roger Stone in jail for a present.

  41. 41.

    rikyrah

    February 21, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BC!

  42. 42.

    JPL

    February 21, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    @janeform: Happy Birthday.

  43. 43.

    AThornton

    February 21, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    In other news President Dumbass wants the US to stop releasing 5G and jump directly to 6G mobile communications technology.

  44. 44.

    clay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Mine was Monday. I’m not sure that this supports your theory.

  45. 45.

    Kay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    @Sebastian:

    I don’t know. The victim’s lawyer said they blocked disclosure for 11 years, which would seem to indicate that they should suffer some sanction. Epstein is out. He did his joke of a jail term. I think he’s a registered sex offender though- they wouldn’t have been able to hand him a special “rich person” deal on that.

    There’s no statute of limitations on trafficking though, so they could maybe charge him again – there are tens of victims and thousands of incidents. Seems like they could rustle one or two up.

  46. 46.

    Brachiator

    February 21, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    @debit & @Sebastian: Pisces friends! My birthday is tomorrow, and my husband’s was Tuesday. Seems like ALL the best people were born in February!

    Happy birthday to everyone!!

  47. 47.

    Plato

    February 21, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    Will believe it when it actually happens.

  48. 48.

    JPL

    February 21, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Wow It’s the month of birthdays. Happy birthday to you also

  49. 49.

    trollhattan

    February 21, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    @Kay:
    Oh hell yes, Jeffrey Epstein and everybody involved in his hand-slap of a sentence needs to be hauled up on further charges. He’s a much, much bigger monster than Weinstein and that’s saying something. And he pimped on behalf of our current president*.

  50. 50.

    Salty Sam

    February 21, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    @debit:

    Happy birthday! So many Feb babies here today. We all deserve Roger Stone in jail for a present.

    Feb 27 REPRESENTIN’ !
    …and yep, R. Stone in jail would be a nice gift…

  51. 51.

    trollhattan

    February 21, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    @Betty Cracker:
    Aquarius here–mine was last week. HBDTYs for everybody!

  52. 52.

    debit

    February 21, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    @clay: Yes it does. You are also awesome.

  53. 53.

    Betty Cracker

    February 21, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    Thanks for the birthday greetings, all!

    RE: Stone — the judge is back, according to tweeting reporters! Let’s see if we Pisces babies get our present…

  54. 54.

    Yutsano

    February 21, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    @Betty Cracker: My mom will be spending her birthday in Italy with my older brother. She honestly couldn’t ask for a better present for birthday number 69.

    EDIT: her birthday is the first of March.

  55. 55.

    A Ghost To Most

    February 21, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    @Jeffro:
    To be fair, that’s a pretty small “arsenal” for an ammosexual. My brother’s is quite a bit larger, and he’s severely limited by budget.

  56. 56.

    jeffreyw

    February 21, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    @Betty Cracker:
    Happy Birthday!

  57. 57.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 3:56 pm

    Judge says Stone has “decided to pursue a strategy of attacking others.” Says Stone couldn’t keep story straight on the stand. Says Instagram post had a “more sinister message.” Roger Stone, fully understands the power of words and symbols, she says.

  58. 58.

    piratedan

    February 21, 2019 at 3:56 pm

    @Betty Cracker: my question is also about the down ballot races, if these guys have testified that they altered the votes for the Congressional election, what about all of those other races on the ballot, couldn’t that have also affected their outcomes, especially so since those were a lot less likely to be marked than the Congressional ballot?

  59. 59.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    Judge Amy Berman Jackson says she’s not convinced that Stone is all talk. Says the post created a very real risk. “These were deliberate choices.”

  60. 60.

    Betty Cracker

    February 21, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    @jeffreyw: How’d you know I’m a sucker for coconut? :)

  61. 61.

    Plato

    February 21, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    Roger Stone judge has taken a 15 minute break. Stone’s attorney said to the judge if there's an order, it should be that Stone can't criticize the court or the judge. ( I guess you need an order for that)— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) February 21, 2019

  62. 62.

    Humdog

    February 21, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    @Kay: I don’t think Epstein is a registered sex offender. They only charged him with prostitution.

    These poor women have been waiting for justice for over a decade. Acosta’s labor dept spokessmuck said he followed all justice department guidelines, which the judge explicitly said they did not. I want all the men involved, from perpetrators to defense council to prosecution to have a few sleepless weeks as they wait to see if justice will finally fall upon them. I am supposing that since they never got Epstein on child sex or trafficking, they can go for those now that the npa is shown to be tainted.

  63. 63.

    Captain C

    February 21, 2019 at 3:58 pm

    Judge ABJ says his release under the current set of conditions without modification does pose a danger to the others and/or the community.— Britain Eakin (@BritainEakin) February 21, 2019

    Just tweeted

  64. 64.

    Sloane Ranger

    February 21, 2019 at 3:58 pm

    Happy Birthday everyone. Hope you all have (are having) a great day!

  65. 65.

    clay

    February 21, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    @debit: *blush*

  66. 66.

    Betty Cracker

    February 21, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    Aw, damn. Looks like the judge is gagging but not jailing Stone. :(

  67. 67.

    Elizabelle

    February 21, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    @waspuppet: I wish they could award the seat to the non-cheater. The Democrat who very nearly won (and did win in other counties, right??)

    This just clears the decks to run a more palatable Republican candidate. Like the incumbent GOP rep the cheater cheated in the GOP primary.

    Seat should go to the Democrat. If I ran the world.

  68. 68.

    JanieM

    February 21, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    @janeform: What the heck, mine is too! Must be a Jane thing. ;-)

  69. 69.

    Jeffro

    February 21, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    @AThornton: Some wags on the Twitter machine are suggesting that trumpov’s G “goes to 11” Love. It.

  70. 70.

    jeffreyw

    February 21, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    @Betty Cracker:
    Just lucky, I suppose. By the way, be careful around the middle of next month.

  71. 71.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    JUDGE: “No, Mr. Stone, I’m not giving you another chance.” Modifying conditions, says Stone cannot speak publicly about the case.

    No, Judge! Don’t wimp out now.

  72. 72.

    Yutsano

    February 21, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    @SFAW:

    My apologies if I’m being too much of a squish.

    No a thousand cuts from a vegetable peeler all over his body with a full submersion in a bath of lemon juice? I am disappoint, good sir. Disappoint I say!

  73. 73.

    Elizabelle

    February 21, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    Dang. Although, if no jail, maybe she’s just biding her time because Stone will run afoul of the gag order.

  74. 74.

    The Dangerman

    February 21, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    Jackson: “So no, Mr Stone, I’m not giving you another chance. I have serious doubts about whether you’ve learned any lesson at all.”

    Looks like remand.

    As a wise man once said, “Fuck ’em”.

    ETA: Oops; I looks wrong, apparently.

  75. 75.

    rikyrah

    February 21, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    JUDGE: “No, Mr. Stone, I’m not giving you another chance.” Modifying conditions, says Stone cannot speak publicly about the case.

    Phuck outta here. He threatened your azz. Put. him. in. JAIL.

  76. 76.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Does that mean he’s not going to jail?

    “Reuters: JUDGE ORDERS STONE NOT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT THE CASE, ADDRESS IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR COMMENT INDIRECTLY VIA SURROGATES”

  77. 77.

    daverave

    February 21, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Hey my half-birthday is this month… does that count????

  78. 78.

    Plato

    February 21, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    Just a ‘strict’ media gag order? Didn’t she do the same last time around?

    Gag.

  79. 79.

    JPL

    February 21, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Not yet. Since he already stated that he talks too much, I expect he’ll be called back into court next week…

  80. 80.

    Jeffro

    February 21, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Speaking of Twitter wags, here’s ol Tricky himself (re: Stone pleading for his freedom)

    A Celtic symbol? My God, I’d claim a dope problem and throw myself on the mercy of the court before I insult the judge like that.

  81. 81.

    Ruviana

    February 21, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    @Elizabelle: It reminds me a bit of Manafort. Just how long can ol’ Rog keep his mouth shut?

  82. 82.

    catclub

    February 21, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    @Wapiti:

    Damn, that ruling is a breath of fresh air.

    I think there is still some stale air around. 1)Part of the agreement was not to go after all the other (powerful) people who may have been involved. Is that part of the agreement nullified? I doubt it.
    2) Epstein probably still has his immunity.

  83. 83.

    Plato

    February 21, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    More pillows. Must be nice being white.

  84. 84.

    Cermet

    February 21, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    Pisces rule! Also, happy Birthday to all the Jackals here who are celebrating Birthdays today; wow, didn’t realize that December was such an active month for undercover work.

  85. 85.

    Mary G

    February 21, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    Speaking of inciting speech, the president, Stone, and the right-wing industrial complex helped create this guy:

    The first sentence of this charging document! FYI – This is Baltimore FBI investigation along w/ US Coast Guard pic.twitter.com/4OwOy38ebC— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) February 20, 2019

    If you can’t click on tweets, it says “The defendant intends to murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country. He must be detained pending trial.”

  86. 86.

    J R in WV

    February 21, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    Happy Birthdays, all you wintertime Jackals !!

    Here’s hoping that Hyena Roger Stone goes up the River for your birthday, just for his own safety, of course!

    ETA: Went for a regularly schedules Dr’s appointment this morning, BP was 130/70, as Dr Bill called it, “Perfect” — I do take a med [1/2 a tablet of a mild diuretic] to keep it mediated, it’s working!!

  87. 87.

    debit

    February 21, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    Awwww, man! Disappointed. I may as well go be bad.

  88. 88.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 21, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    I’m very disappointed in you, Judge Amy

    ETA: And debit’s birthday is ruined!

  89. 89.

    catclub

    February 21, 2019 at 4:12 pm

    @Jeffro: Interesting that he knows the symbology of a random image he found on the internet and picked with his eyes closed.

  90. 90.

    Plato

    February 21, 2019 at 4:13 pm

    Roger Stone has been gagged, but he can continue to raise money. One shirt that was already on sale PRIOR to today's hearing? "Gagged but not forgotten." Stone appears to have anticipated this moment. pic.twitter.com/xtyANt87H4— Shelby Holliday (@shelbyholliday) February 21, 2019

  91. 91.

    Aleta

    February 21, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    A little more about Acosta’s role, from the same Miami Herald story from @Kay:

    Instead of prosecuting Epstein under federal sex trafficking laws, Acosta, then the U.S. attorney in Miami, helped negotiate a non-prosecution agreement that gave Epstein and his co-conspirators immunity from federal prosecution.
    …
    Acosta agreed to seal the deal which meant that none of Epstein’s victims, who were mostly 13 to 16 years old at the time of the abuse, were told about it until it was too late for them to appear at his sentencing and possibly reject the deal.

    “Particularly problematic was the Government’s decision to conceal the existence of the [agreement] and mislead the victims to believe that federal prosecution was still a possibility,’’ Marra wrote. “When the Government gives information to victims, it cannot be misleading. While the Government spent untold hours negotiating the terms and implications of the [agreement] with Epstein’s attorneys, scant information was shared with victims.’’

    While the victims ultimately would like to see Epstein go to jail, the judge’s ruling stopped short of issuing a remedy or punishment.

    He gave the government and victims 15 days to confer with each other to come up with a resolution. It’s unclear what that resolution would be.

    (Brad) Edwards [the attorney who brought the case] conceded that Epstein’s sentence isn’t likely to be overturned. He was released in 2009.

    But victims’ rights advocates say that other charges can still be brought against Epstein if more victims come forward in other jurisdictions. There has been no statute of limitations for sex trafficking since 2002.

    I think there will be updated reporting from Julie Brown at the link.

  92. 92.

    Elizabelle

    February 21, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    @Ruviana:

    I suspect gagging Roger Stone only works for his erotic life.

    Time will tell.

  93. 93.

    Wapiti

    February 21, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    @catclub: Oh, there’s plenty a nasty air remaining.

    I do wonder how a plea agreement with one defendant can set that there will be no criminal criminal liability for other suspects. I’d think each one of the scumbags would need their own plea bargain… but I’m not a lawyer, and not in Florida.

  94. 94.

    Bumper

    February 21, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    @debit: Hah, another entry for Steeplejack’s notes.

    ETA: multiple entries! Happy birthday to all.

  95. 95.

    Joy in FL

    February 21, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    @Betty Cracker: I agree. I think the Dem should get the seat. No new election. If I were the cheater, I would be fine-tuning my cheating skills while awaiting a chance to use them in the new election. Duh.

  96. 96.

    waspuppet

    February 21, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    @Elizabelle: Until a BOE can say “Well, you got the most votes but you lose,” cheating is going to happen. Granted, there’s a problem with that, especially is a bunch of Republicans are on the BOE because we know they cheat. I’m not sure how to balance it out.

  97. 97.

    SenyorDave

    February 21, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    @SFAW: Where “more reasonable” is defined as: cat o’ nine tails, flaying, drawing and quartering

    Stone sounds like a truly soulless human, a person worthy of spending the remainder of his worthless life in a 9×6 cell. But I balk at drawing and quartering. Here is one definition I found:

    The grisly punishment included the drawing of the convicted to the gallows, often by horse, the hanging of the body until near death, disembowelment and castration, followed by the beheading of the body, and finally the quartering of the corpse, or the division of the bodily remnants into four pieces.

    I think that should be saved for treasonous politicians who sell out their country.

  98. 98.

    tobie

    February 21, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    Happy birthday all you Pisces and almost Pisces! mr. tobie’s birthday was on Tuesday so I will join the chorus and say all the best people are born in February (or thereabouts). Many happy returns to all of you.

  99. 99.

    Fair Economist

    February 21, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Does that mean he’s not going to jail?

    “Reuters: JUDGE ORDERS STONE NOT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT THE CASE, ADDRESS IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR COMMENT INDIRECTLY VIA SURROGATES”

    Not going this time.

    He will go the next, and I think there will be a next, knowing him.

  100. 100.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 21, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    @Elizabelle: [vomits]

  101. 101.

    Jay

    February 21, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    @Humdog:

    “Jeffrey Edward Epstein (born January 20, 1953) is an American financier, science and research philanthropist, and registered sex offender.[1] ”

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein

    BTW, if the Prosecution actions were illegal, then Epstein’s immunity deal is null and void.

  102. 102.

    ruemara

    February 21, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    Happy birthday to all!

  103. 103.

    catclub

    February 21, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    @waspuppet:

    “Well, you got the most votes but you [and your side] lose,”

  104. 104.

    catclub

    February 21, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    @Jay:

    BTW, if the Prosecution actions were illegal, then Epstein’s immunity deal is null and void.

    I wish it were so. You might even think that if the Prosecution actions were illegal, their convictions would be overturned too.
    But it seems like all those prosecutorial misconduct cases turn out that way only when the defendant is very rich and powerful.
    Otherwise, they stay in prison, until the Innocence Project gets around to their case.

    and the plea deal being null and void, that sounds like the sanctity of contracts that applies when CEO bonuses of bailed out companies get paid, but the union contracts of those companies get get shitcanned. A one way ratchet.

  105. 105.

    randy khan

    February 21, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    While I’d really love to see Stone in jail (where all of his calls would be monitored and they’d likely catch him doing stuff as stupid as what Manafort did when he was in jail), I’m not surprised that the judge just tightened the gag order. Judges, even when saying they’re not giving you a second chance, like to look reasonable, and this looks reasonable to someone who doesn’t know about Stone.

    Also, there’s something about giving a man enough rope that might apply to Mr. Stone.

  106. 106.

    Aleta

    February 21, 2019 at 4:32 pm

    @debit: @Sebastian: @Betty Cracker: @janeform: @clay: @JanieM: @daverave:
    Happy birthday! and 1/2 birthday! and to all other Feb. babies here too ! May you each see the indictment you most desire come true this year. ? ? ? ? ?

  107. 107.

    Elizabelle

    February 21, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    @Aleta: I second this.

    Happy birthdays, and indictments all around. For Trumpsters, not for the birthday babes.

  108. 108.

    Elizabelle

    February 21, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    @Steve in the ATL: LOL. I knew somebody would.

  109. 109.

    Jay

    February 21, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    @catclub:

    It requires lawyers and a legal team, and time.

    A lot of people just give up, a lot of people take the settlement,

    Seems that this lawyer is what you call “committed”, and so is his client.

    Epstein’s still wealthy, so between the previous ruling in the other case, and this ruling, there will be a lot of “piling on”, on both Epstein and The State.

    There’s blood in the water now.

  110. 110.

    Immanentize

    February 21, 2019 at 4:50 pm

    @Jay: and Dersh? I can dream….

  111. 111.

    Aleta

    February 21, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    @debit: Sebastian : Betty Cracker : janeform: clay :
    trollhattan : JanieM: daverave: mr. tobie:
    Happy Birthday, and happy 1/2 birthday! And to all the other Feb babies! May you each dance at the indictment of your dreams come true this year! ? ? ? ? ?

  112. 112.

    Frankensteinbeck

    February 21, 2019 at 4:54 pm

    @randy khan:

    Also, there’s something about giving a man enough rope that might apply to Mr. Stone.

    This is exactly what I suspect. In fact, it will be a perfect test for whether I have Stone pegged, as an asshole who has reached the stage of no self control, just raging id. If he’s a schemer, he should shut up now. He’s made his point without going to jail. If he’s a nutcase, he’ll keep running his mouth.

  113. 113.

    Aleta

    February 21, 2019 at 4:56 pm

    @Immanentize: good dream

  114. 114.

    westyny

    February 21, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    Happy Birthday, Betty!

  115. 115.

    Brachiator

    February 21, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Speaking of locking him up, judge ruled that Federal prosecutors broke the law when they signed some plea agreement with him.

    I’m looking at all these great stories and wondering how Fox News will cover them. Republicans caught doing bad things and punished. Maybe they will go silent and just show a test pattern for the rest of the day.

  116. 116.

    cliosfanboy

    February 21, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    @Betty Cracker: that can’t be right, cause I was born in March… and. Um. Never mind.. Happy birthday Feb jackals

  117. 117.

    trollhattan

    February 21, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    @Aleta:

    indictment of your dreams

    Hee-hee! Is Costner available? We can work up a screenplay right quick.

  118. 118.

    chopper

    February 21, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    @AThornton:

    “fuck it, we’re doing five blades!”

  119. 119.

    trollhattan

    February 21, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    @Brachiator:
    We all know Fox will go “Gay, black, gay, overpaid teevee star does stupid thing” for the next 48 hours.

  120. 120.

    Aleta

    February 21, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    [Epstein’s] accomplices, some of whom have never been identified, were never charged.

    I’ll hope for new names, charges and people who turn state’s evidence. Can the sealed records be unsealed? Does anything prevent civil suits against Epstein? Can Acosta be prosecuted or sued?

  121. 121.

    patrick II

    February 21, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    @Kay:

    I know there are more important things going on in the country right now, but seeing a serial child abuser and pimp too powerful to suffer consequences who potentially could actually suffer consequences after all is very satisfying news.

  122. 122.

    Bill Arnold

    February 21, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    @catclub:

    Interesting that he knows the symbology of a random image he found on the internet and picked with his eyes closed.

    Also, I’m not sure how easy that image was to find; it’s not in the first few pages of google image hits with a few different queries and an max date of Feb 1 2019. (It’s possible I missed an obvious query.)
    Maybe he has a go-to special “opo research” search engine for this sort of thing. :-)

  123. 123.

    Jay

    February 21, 2019 at 5:16 pm

    @Aleta:

    There’s a 15 day period for the Plaintiff and The State to reach a settlement.

    There’s a lot that the Plaintiff can “demand” other than money.

  124. 124.

    hedgehog mobile

    February 21, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    @Betty Cracker: @debit @Sebastian: Happy birthday to us all (mine is tomorrow, shared with the illustrious Ms. Cracker ). Tomorrow is National Margarita Day, also too.

  125. 125.

    catclub

    February 21, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    @Bill Arnold:

    Maybe he has a go-to special “opo research” search engine for this sort of thing. :-)

    The same way Trump just ‘happened’ to re-tweet an image with a star of david and dollars. There is a farm team system of people sending him images. I bet they percolate up.

  126. 126.

    The Pale Scot

    February 21, 2019 at 5:54 pm

    @catclub: The theft of the Celtic Cross pisses me off. I know there’s myth and unsubstantiated story in my understanding. The early church in in the Islands had adherents to what was later called Pelagianism.

    Pelagianism is a belief in Christianity that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special divine aid (priests and organized churches not required). This theological theory is named after the British monk Pelagius (354–420 or 440)

    The Early Church had women priests and community property. Then
    romans yammering about the previously libertine bisexual Augustine’s nearly deathbed advocation of women as deceitful Eves and homosexuality as a mortal sin showed up decreeing Papal authority and excommunicated all the nice, rational people.

    Now the symbol I always wanted a tattoo of is the symbol of white supremacy.

    Jesus wept

  127. 127.

    Yarrow

    February 21, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    Wow, lots of birthdays! Happy birthday, everyone.

    Disappointed Roger Stone isn’t going to prison but I kind of understand it. I expect he’ll violate this latest order and then off to prison he’ll go.

    Jeffrey Epstein is a horrible person. Alan Dershowitz must be getting nervous about now.

  128. 128.

    evodevo

    February 21, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    @Betty Cracker: I was just saying this to my husband a couple hours ago … great minds think alike, etc. etc.

  129. 129.

    SFAW

    February 21, 2019 at 8:09 pm

    @SenyorDave:

    I think that should be saved for treasonous politicians who sell out their country.

    I would respectfully suggest that you expand your “population set” to add “and those who helped traitors get into the Oval Office.” I think Stone is a two-fer in that arena.

    You squish.

  130. 130.

    SFAW

    February 21, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    @Yutsano:

    I am disappoint, good sir. Disappoint I say!

    Humblest and sincerest apologies! The lack of inclusion of your suggestion was due to my limited imagination, not because I frowned ‘pon it.

  131. 131.

    SFAW

    February 21, 2019 at 8:16 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Nope, cheater goes to jail/pays fine/whatever, non-cheater goes to the House. That seems more like justice to me.

    Yeah, because the Rethugs are all about punishing cheaters. Unfortunately, it’s only Dems they CLAIM are cheating that get punished. Other Rethugs, not so much. (Feature, not bug)

  132. 132.

    Amir Khalid

    February 21, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    @The Pale Scot:
    A Celtic cross once kept me from buying a guitar. It was the one Epiphone put on the headstock of its Goth Les Paul Studio where Les’ signature usually goes. I am not Christian and don’t feel I have a right to carry a symbol of other people’s faith. I got the regular black Les Paul Studio. I understand that there are people who buy the Goth Les Paul Studio but cover up the Celtic cross to avoid political misunderstandings.

  133. 133.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 21, 2019 at 9:36 pm

    @Amir Khalid: you look pretty Irish; you could have pulled it off

  134. 134.

    SFAW

    February 21, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    A Celtic cross once kept me from buying a guitar.

    Was a picture of Amy Berman Jackson engraved next to it, and that’s the real reason?

  135. 135.

    Jay

    February 22, 2019 at 1:27 am

    @The Pale Scot:

    The Nazis don’t own the symbols they steal,

    They just taint them.

  136. 136.

    akryan

    February 22, 2019 at 2:32 am

    The fact that Stone wasn’t locked up is bullshit. Any poor person without political influence or expensive lawyers would be in jail for doing something like this. He’s being judged on a curve and it’s not fair. We’ll see if Stone embraces his second chance, but he shouldn’t have been given it in the first place.

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