CNN anchor Anderson Cooper’s alleged stalker chickened out of pleading guilty to menacing charges Tuesday, whimpering that he never intended to harm the handsome journalist.
Self-proclaimed “gay, Jewish white supremacist” Alex Hausner, 38, of Queens could have been released from jail the same day if he copped to a charge of felony menacing, which carries a maximum sentence of four years, and an aggravated-harassment rap.
Hausner is accused of terrorizing Cooper and his boyfriend for nearly six years.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon told Haunser, “You repeatedly followed Anderson Cooper and engaged in a course of conduct … intentionally placing or attempting to place Anderson Cooper in a reasonable fear of physical injury.
The sobbing, scraggly-haired suspect replied, “I did those things [follow Cooper], but that was not my intention” to menace him.
The skeptical judge shot back, “You showed up at night banging on his door. What do you think he’s gonna think?”
An exasperated Solomon finally said, “I don’t want to take a plea under these circumstances. I’m going to have to have [Hausner] admit — if he wants to — that he committed these acts.”
The judge ordered Hausner to return to court Friday after talking things over with his lawyer to either take the plea deal or head to trial, which he was found mentally fit for last week.
Hausner has been locked up since July 27 of last year, when he showed up at Cooper’s home in a rage and repeatedly kicked in his front door.
“I swear to f–king God, don’t insult me!” he shouted. “I’m going to f-k you up!”
The man believes his imaginary friendship with Cooper includes “romantic undertones.”