Federal prosecutors cannot play a clip from “The Godfather, Part II” in court during the trial of political consultant Roger StoneRoger Jason StoneJudge rules prosecutors can’t show ‘Godfather’ clip at Roger Stone’s trial Meet Trump’s most trusted pollsters 3 real problems Republicans need to address to win in 2020 MORE, a judge ruled Monday.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is overseeing the case against the consultant, agreed with his attorneys that the clip could unfairly prejudice jurors.
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“The government will not be permitted to introduce the clip itself in its case in chief because the prejudicial effect of the videotape, which includes a number of extraneous matters, outweighs its probative value,” Jackson, an Obama appointee, ruled Monday.
However, she said prosecutors are free to use a transcript of the scene.
The indictment against Stone charges that he pressured an associate to “do a Frank Pentangeli” in his testimony. Pentangeli, played in the 1974 film by Michael V. Gazzo, is a lieutenant in the Corleone mafia family who recants incriminating Senate testimony after the family arranges for his brother to sit in the audience for the hearing.
Stone, a longtime informal adviser to President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he doesn’t want NYT in the White House Veterans group backs lawsuits to halt Trump’s use of military funding for border wall Schiff punches back after GOP censure resolution fails MORE, is charged with seven felonies, including witness tampering and lying to Congress. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.
Stone’s trial is set to begin Nov. 5 in Washington, D.C.
Jackson said in her ruling that after the jury hears testimony from Stone and Randy Credico, the associate he is believed to have sent the message to, prosecutors may request to play the clip again.
Read judge’s ruling by kballuck1 on Scribd
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