Roger Stone Threatened Political Violence and Civil War Prior to Instagram Post Aimed at Judge

As Roger Stone heads to court today to defend an apparent threat he aimed at the judge in his case, it's a good time to look at his disturbing history of making similar threats of violence, domestic terrorism, and even civil war.

Stone, the Fort Lauderdale resident arrested in an FBI raid last month on charges related to the Mueller investigation, has repeatedly suggested violence and assassination during the tumultuous presidency of his longtime boss, Donald Trump.

A couple of those examples make the Instagram post calling special counsel Robert Mueller "a deep state hitman" and depicting Judge Amy Berman Jackson with crosshairs look tame in comparison.

In December 2017, he and fellow conspiracy theorist Alex Jones filmed a segment at a gun range in which they said they were preparing for the civil war that would break out if Trump were to be removed from office by a "Clinton corporate coup." 

"I'm not advocating violence... but If there is a coup détat, if there is an illegitimate unconstitutional effort to remove Donald Trump on trumped-up charges by biased or partisan prosecutors or an illegitimate takedown by the 25th Amendment, there will be a civil war in this country," Stone says in the video. "The Trump constituency has been awakened, and they will not be put to sleep. I choose to defend myself and my family. I'm tired of the death threats, I'm tired of the need for personal security, I'm tired of the insults, and, therefore, I am going to defend the Constitution and myself."

"Roger's been going to the shooting range more and more," Jones says in the video, "and now has security, just like we do."

Then they hit the gun range, where Stone and Jones fire a number of automatic weapons at paper targets.

"Die, commie dogs...," Stone says as he fires an Uzi. "Up against the wall, commies."

The two also joke about making a "JFK throat shot," and Jones calls Stone the "Rambo" of the movement "to take out globalists."

In August 2017, Stone told TMZ that if Trump were impeached, there would be an "insurrection in this country like you have never seen before" and "any politician who votes for it would be endangering their own life."

"Just try it...," he said in the interview. "Both sides are heavily armed, my friend."

And if you think the exhortations by people such as Stone and Jones have no real-world effect, consider the case of U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Hasson, an alleged domestic terrorist and white supremacist who was arrested Wednesday on drug and gun charges. Hasson, who was allegedly plotting to murder numerous Democratic politicians and media personalities, had recently searched "civil war if Trump impeached" on Google.

The video and barely veiled threats show why the FBI took Stone's arrest seriously. In the early morning, agents arrived heavily armed in tactical gear. Stone and the right-wing media, led by Fox News, have claimed the raid was unnecessary because Stone is a senior citizen charged with lying to Congress. No guns were found on his property.

Somehow Stone's history of barely veiled threats has evaded media scrutiny during the buildup to today's hearing in Stone's felony case. Judge Jackson is set to determine if Stone's Instagram post violated his partial gag order or the terms of release, one of which is that he's forbidden to intimidate those involved in the case, including the judge. It's also against the law to threaten any federal official.

The big question is whether Jackson will revoke his bond and incarcerate the 66-year-old Stone, an answer that should come during today's 2:30 p.m. court hearing.