New prosecutors in Roger Stone trial defy Trump and ask for the same sentence from before Trump’s interference
While President Trump’s efforts to subvert the Justice Department’s independence and exonerate his buddies remain as determined as ever, it’s becoming clear that he severely misjudged the integrity of our nation’s top prosecutors and their commitment to justice.
The trial of former Trump advisor Roger Stone has gripped Washington’s attention for the past week as President Trump’s impulse to interfere on behalf of his bespectacled footpad sparked a judicial crisis in the Justice Department.
When Attorney General William Barr announced they would be revising Stone’s recommended sentence of seven to nine years in prison after the President complained that it was too harsh, four of the prosecutors involved quit in protest over the flagrant attempt to overrule their judgments.
But it appears that their gambit has failed, as Thursday morning’s trial saw the new prosecutors call for the same sentence of seven to nine years for Stone, who is accused of tampering with witnesses, obstructing an official proceeding, and lying to the FBI.
IN SUM:
-DOJ calls for 7-9 years for Stone.
-Barr intervenes (and Trump tweets)
-DOJ reverses, calling for lesser sentence
-Stone prosecutors quit case
-New prosecutors re-reverse, argue for 7-9 years; won't say who ordered 1st reversal; defend prosecutors who quit.— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) February 20, 2020
After AG Barr told the world the first sentencing recommendation for Stone was grossly out of whack, his prosecutor—the guy who replaced the guys who quit in protest—argued today for all the enhancements that bump the sentence as high as 9 years. That looks like a revolt.
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) February 20, 2020
The presiding Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who also sentenced former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, made it clear that she was not going to go easy on Stone in light of his flagrant efforts to thumb his nose at authority and the ease with which he lied over and over again.
Judge Jackson rules she will give Stone a stronger sentence b/c of his social media campaign challenging his prosecution: “This is intolerable to the administration of justice and the courts should not sit idly by, shrug its shoulders and just say it’s ‘Roger being Roger.'”
— Darren Samuelsohn (@dsamuelsohn) February 20, 2020
Unfortunately, it does look like Stone will not be getting the punishment that the Justice Department’s prosecutors deemed necessary.
Here we go: Jackson says that the 7-9 year sentence recommendation concerned her and “would be greater than necessary.”
— Darren Samuelsohn (@dsamuelsohn) February 20, 2020
But Judge Jackson made it clear that the president’s intervention would have no effect on her decision…
She said she would not hold against Stone those who claim he's a victim of political persecution; she also would not listen to liberals who want to see him punished for his political work. "Roger Stone will not be sentenced for who his friends are or who his enemies are."
— Rachel Weiner (@rachelweinerwp) February 20, 2020
…and that a punishment would be coming.
Judge Jackson: “If it goes unpunished it will not be a victory for one party of another. Everyone looses…For that reason the dismay and disgust at the defendant’s belligerence should transcend party."
— Megan Mineiro (@MMineiro_CNS) February 20, 2020
Judge on Stone: “At his core, Mr. Stone is an insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention” via @kpolantz
— Kristin Donnelly (@kristindonnelly) February 20, 2020
Her final judgement was that Stone deserved three years and change in prison.
BREAKING: Judge Jackson sentences Roger Stone to 40 months incarceration.
— Megan Mineiro (@MMineiro_CNS) February 20, 2020
This is a breaking news story that will be updated as new developments emerge.
