Former Donald Trump campaign chair in New Hampshire, Jonathan Stone, lost his job as a police officer after threatening colleagues in a shooting spree, murdering the department chief, and raping the chief’s wife. Stone was suspended for his relationship with a high school girl, and documents detailing the incident were recently released due to a lawsuit by a local newspaper. Stone, who was chosen as Trump’s 2023 Sullivan County chair, presented Trump with an AR-15 rifle during his 2016 campaign. Trump himself was unaware of Stone’s background until recent news reports.
Stone’s fate with the Trump campaign remains uncertain, with campaign co-managers failing to respond to inquiries. Stone had displayed a temper and made violent threats against his colleagues, which led investigators to recommend his removal from the police force. Despite losing his job, Stone went on to open a gun shop in New Hampshire. Trump named Stone as one of his county and city chairs and praised him during a rally in Claremont.
Trump’s legal troubles, including several criminal prosecutions, have not dampened his support for Stone, who has remained in his camp since 2016. Trump lost New Hampshire in both the 2016 and 2020 elections but won the state’s primary three months ago, securing his third consecutive Republican presidential nomination. Trump faces indictments related to his actions leading up to and during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Other prosecutions based on his attempt to overturn his election loss and fraudulent business records are also pending.
In 2023, a New York jury found Trump civilly liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. A federal judge confirmed that Trump’s actions constituted rape in common modern terms. Despite these legal challenges, Trump continues to receive support from individuals like Stone, who have stood by him through various controversies. Stone’s past behavior and threats against colleagues highlight the challenges faced by the Trump campaign in selecting individuals for key roles. The unfolding legal battles faced by Trump underscore the complex legal web surrounding the former president.
