This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/feb/20/roger-stone-sentenced-democrats-debate-bloomberg-trump

The article has changed 29 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Roger Stone sentencing hearing begins as Trump hints at pardon – live Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison for obstructing Russia investigation – live
(32 minutes later)
Trump’s former associate, who was found guilty on seven counts in November, will be sentenced today but the president may pardon him Trump’s former associate, who was found guilty on seven counts in November, was sentenced today but the president may pardon him
Roger Stone has been sentenced to spend three years and four months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
The former Trump associate will also be required to pay a $20,000 fine.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Stone to 40 months on the first charge and concurrent sentences on the sixth other charges.
Roger Stone, Trump’s former associate, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to and obstructing Congress and witness tampering in the Russia investigation.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson defended the congressional investigation into Russian interference and the prosecution of Roger Stone’s case.
“There was nothing unfair, phony or disgraceful about the investigation or the prosecution,” Jackson said. “Witnesses do not get to decide for themselves whether Congress is entitled to the facts.”
She also argued Stone’s disregard for the truth should worry all those who care about American democracy.
“The dismay and disgust at the defendant’s belligerence should transcend party,” Jackson said.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson criticized Trump’s tweets about Roger Stone’s case, calling the president’s comments “entirely inappropriate.”
But the judge made clear she would not be swayed by Trump’s comments or arguments from Stone’s critics calling for a stiffer sentence.
“Roger Stone will not be sentenced for who his friends are or who his enemies are,” Jackson said.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson dismissed the arguments, repeatedly aired by Trump’s allies on cable news and on Twitter, that Roger Stone is being punished for his political views.
“He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president,” Berman said. “He was prosecuted for covering up for the president.”
Judge Amy Berman Jackson said federal prosecutors’ original sentencing recommendation, which called for seven to nine years in prison for Roger Stone, was “thorough, well-researched and supported.”
However, she said she would not have issued that severe of a sentence, regardless of the “unprecedented” actions taken by Justice Department leadership last week.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson also rejected the argument from Roger Stone’s lawyers that he had been made to suffer a great deal during the course of the trial.
Jackson noted that much of the public scrutiny of Stone came in response to his own handling of the trial, posting about the case on social media even after a gag order was issued.
Outlining the charges against Roger Stone, Judge Amy Berman Jackson noted both chambers of Congress were controlled by Republicans when he lied to lawmakers, so it’s illogical that Stone would feel the need to protect Trump against an allegedly unfair investigation.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson applauded Randy Credico, the witness who was threatened by Roger Stone, for writing a letter in support of a lenient sentence.Judge Amy Berman Jackson applauded Randy Credico, the witness who was threatened by Roger Stone, for writing a letter in support of a lenient sentence.
But Jackson dismissed the idea that Credico’s “sensitivity” and “concern” reflected favorably upon Stone.But Jackson dismissed the idea that Credico’s “sensitivity” and “concern” reflected favorably upon Stone.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Roger Stone had “flat out lied” to Congress as lawmakers investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election.Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Roger Stone had “flat out lied” to Congress as lawmakers investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“This is not mere equivocation,” Jackson said. “These answers were clearly false.”“This is not mere equivocation,” Jackson said. “These answers were clearly false.”
Quoting a letter in support of Roger Stone, Judge Amy Berman Jackson rejected the notion that Stone was “being pursued by political enemies.”Quoting a letter in support of Roger Stone, Judge Amy Berman Jackson rejected the notion that Stone was “being pursued by political enemies.”
Jackson said the record clearly showed Stone had “injected himself” into the WikiLeaks controversy by seeking the hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 campaign.Jackson said the record clearly showed Stone had “injected himself” into the WikiLeaks controversy by seeking the hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 campaign.
Jackson’s comments reject arguments from Trump and some of his allies that Stone is the victim of a political witch hunt.Jackson’s comments reject arguments from Trump and some of his allies that Stone is the victim of a political witch hunt.
Delivering her decision on Roger Stone’s sentence, Judge Amy Berman Jackson began, “Unsurprisingly, I have a lot to say.”Delivering her decision on Roger Stone’s sentence, Judge Amy Berman Jackson began, “Unsurprisingly, I have a lot to say.”
Jackson then said she would walk through each aspect of the sentencing, starting with the nature of Stone’s crimes.Jackson then said she would walk through each aspect of the sentencing, starting with the nature of Stone’s crimes.
Roger Stone’s sentencing hearing is back in session, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson will soon deliver her ruling.Roger Stone’s sentencing hearing is back in session, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson will soon deliver her ruling.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson tried to get to the bottom of what happened with the changed sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone.Judge Amy Berman Jackson tried to get to the bottom of what happened with the changed sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone.
She noted that John Crabb, the newly installed federal prosecutor who joined the case last week after four colleagues withdrew in protest, was probably the least familiar person with this case in the courtroom, save for a lawyer who just joined the defense team.She noted that John Crabb, the newly installed federal prosecutor who joined the case last week after four colleagues withdrew in protest, was probably the least familiar person with this case in the courtroom, save for a lawyer who just joined the defense team.
“Is there anything you would like to say about why you are the one standing here today?” Jackson asked.“Is there anything you would like to say about why you are the one standing here today?” Jackson asked.
Crabb apologized for any “confusion,” which he said was not caused by the original prosecution team. He said there was a “miscommunication” but did not elaborate on the nature of that.Crabb apologized for any “confusion,” which he said was not caused by the original prosecution team. He said there was a “miscommunication” but did not elaborate on the nature of that.
“This prosecution was, and this prosecution is, righteous,” Crabb said.“This prosecution was, and this prosecution is, righteous,” Crabb said.
He refused to say if he wrote the second sentencing memo, citing internal deliberations. Asked if he was directed to sign the second sentencing memo by someone above him, he again declined to get into internal deliberations.He refused to say if he wrote the second sentencing memo, citing internal deliberations. Asked if he was directed to sign the second sentencing memo by someone above him, he again declined to get into internal deliberations.
Asked whether he would like to address the court, Roger Stone said he would not be speaking today.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson then called for a short break before she delivers her ruling on Stone’s sentencing.
Roger Stone’s lawyers argued the prosecution of his criminal case had already been punishing enough for him and his family, recommending probation for the former Trump associate.
But considered the severe terms Judge Amy Berman Jackson has used today to describe Stone’s actions, it seems unlikely she will be swayed by that argument.
Under questioning from Judge Amy Berman Jackson, federal prosecutor John Crabb defended the original prosecutors who carried out Roger Stone’s case.
Crabb, who signed on to the revised sentencing recommendation last week, blamed the change on a “misunderstanding,” saying the original prosecutors received the proper approvals for their recommendation of seven to nine years in prison.
“This prosecution was, and this prosecution is, righteous,” Crabb said.
But Crabb would not directly answer Jackson’s questions about whether he was ordered to sign the revised sentencing recommendation, which came after Trump criticized the original recommendation.
Crabb argued that process was a matter of internal deliberations, but he expressed confidence in Jackson’s eventual sentence. “We are confident the court will impose a fair and just sentence in this matter,” he said.
The federal prosecutors and Roger Stone’s lawyers argued in court over whether the former Trump associate had obstructed his own criminal case by posting about it on social media.
As a reminder, Stone was slapped with an expanded gag order last year after he posted an Instagram appearing to show Judge Amy Berman Jackson and the crosshairs of a gun.
Jackson warned in court today that the post could have incited violence against her and merited a sentencing enhancement, denouncing Stone’s behavior as “intolerable.”
The judge overseeing Roger Stone’s case agreed with his lawyers that his sentence should not be extended due to evidence of planning to obstruct Congress in its Russia investigation.
Interestingly, the federal prosecutor in Roger Stone’s case who has repeatedly referred to the original sentencing recommendation, which was later contradicted by justice department leadership, is the same prosecutor who signed on to the revised recommendatinon.
The judge overseeing Roger Stone’s case has so far ruled that sentencing guidelines which could increase his prison sentence do apply to his conviction.
But as a Politico reporter noted, the application of those guidelines does not necessarily mean Stone will receive the maximum sentence.
It appears the federal prosecutors, who were added to Roger Stone’s case after four of the original porsecutors withdrew from the case in protest, are standing by their colleagues’ original sentencing recommendation.
As a reminder, the four original prosecutors withdrew from the case because senior Justice Department leaders, including attorney geneeral William Barr, revised down their sentencing recommendation for Stone.
That revision came after Trump criticized the recommended sentence, which was seven to nine years in prison.
It now seems the prosecutors installed to replace their absent colleagues are standing by the original recommendation that the president objected to.
As Roger Stone’s sentencing hearing continues, Trump is tweeting about his former associate, claiming his crimes were on par with the actions of former FBI director James Comey and former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe.
But as a reminder, neither Comey nor McCabe were ever charged with a crime -- in comparison to Stone, who was both charged and convicted on seven counts.
Roger Stone was yelled at by a few protesters as the former Trump associate arrived for his sentencing hearing at a federal courthouse in Washington.