Already facing charges of lying and obstruction in the Russia probe, former Trump adviser Roger Stone is being hauled back into court on Thursday…this time for posting an Instagram photo appearing to threaten the judge overseeing his criminal trial… The photo showed U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson alongside what appeared to be the crosshairs of a gun… In the posting, Stone wrote that Jackson was a quote: "Obama appointed Judge who dismissed the Benghazi charges" against Hillary Clinton.

He also accused special counsel Robert Mueller of being a quote "Deep State hitman." …ALL THIS AFTER Jackson had issued a partial gag order Friday on Stone and his lawyers.

On Tuesday, the judge said Stone would need to show cause at THURSDAY'S HEARING as to why the posts did not violate THAT gag order or the conditions of his release.

Stone - who pleaded NOT GUILTY to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstruction and witness tampering in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe - is currently out on a $250,000 bond.

On Monday, Stone's attorneys filed a formal apology with the court over the photo… Stone later posted a statement on his account saying the photo was not intended to threaten the judge or disrespect the court.