A federal judge denied requests by prosecutors to show jurors a clip from The Godfather Part II during Roger Stone’s upcoming trial.
On Monday, Judge Amy Berman Jackson said showing the clip could prejudice the jury.
“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. The government may introduce a transcript of the clip,” Berman wrote.
Prosecutors wanted to show a four-minute clip from the 1974 film in which mobster Frank Pentangeli lies to Congress instead of giving damning testimony about the Corleone crime family as protagonist Michael Corleone watches.
Stone, a longtime associate of President Trump, referenced the scene to a witness, Randy Credico, who was about to testify to the House Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“Start practicing your Pantagele [sic],” Stone allegedly texted Credico, a radio show host.
Stone is accused of witness tampering, lying to Congress, and obstructing justice. The charges relate to his attempts to reach WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign. Stone tried to use Credico as a middle man for the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks, and he wanted Credico to back the false testimony he gave to Congress, according to prosecutors.
Stone, whose trial begins Nov. 5, has pleaded not guilty.
