Roger Stone set to stand trial on Nov. 5 in Russia investigation

As a self-described Republican dirty trickster, Roger Stone spent decades gleefully and gratuitously inspiring ire among his critics and opponents.

Now the former political advisor to President Trump is struggling to stay in the good graces of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson while awaiting trial in the Russia investigation.

He appeared to get a reprieve Thursday when he returned to Jackson’s courtroom for a status conference. There were no fireworks over whether Stone had violated her gag order with the release of his book “The Myth of Russian Collusion.”

Jackson said she was still reviewing the issue but seemed eager to move on, saying the court proceedings have been bogged down by “collateral matters that have taken up more time than they deserve.”