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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, 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. |