This article is from the source 'washpo' 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.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/roger-stone-sentence-due-thursday-in-federal-court/2020/02/19/2e01bfc8-4c38-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Roger Stone sentenced to three years and four months in prison Roger Stone sentenced to three years and four months in prison, as Trump predicts ‘exoneration’ for his friend
(about 3 hours later)
A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Roger Stone, President Trump’s longtime friend and political adviser, to serve three years and four months in prison for impeding a congressional investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Roger Stone, President Trump’s longtime friend and political adviser, to serve three years and four months in prison for impeding a congressional investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The penalty from U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson comes after weeks of infighting over the politically charged case that threw the Justice Department into crisis, and it is likely not to be the final word. Even before the sentencing hearing began, Trump seemed to suggest on Twitter he might pardon Stone. With the proceedings ongoing, Trump questioned whether his ally was being treated fairly. The penalty from U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson comes after weeks of infighting over the politically charged case that threw the Justice Department into crisis, and it is likely not to be the final word. Even before the sentencing hearing began, Trump seemed to suggest on Twitter that he might pardon Stone. With the proceedings ongoing, Trump questioned whether his ally was being treated fairly. Afterward, he attacked the jury in the case and said he would “love to see Roger exonerated.”
In a lengthy speech before imposing the penalty, Jackson seemed to take aim at Trump, saying Stone “was not prosecuted for standing up for the president; he was prosecuted for covering up for the president.” She also appeared to call out Attorney General William P. Barr, saying intervention to reduce career prosecutors’ sentencing recommendation was “unprecedented.” But she said the politics surrounding the case had not influenced her final decision. In a lengthy speech before imposing the penalty, Jackson seemed to take aim at Trump, saying Stone “was not prosecuted for standing up for the president; he was prosecuted for covering up for the president.” She also appeared to call out Attorney General William P. Barr, saying his intervention to reduce career prosecutors’ sentencing recommendation was “unprecedented.” But she said the politics surrounding the case had not influenced her decision.
“The truth still exists; the truth still matters,” Jackson said, echoing prosecutors’ closing arguments at trial. “Roger Stone’s insistence that it doesn’t, his belligerence, his pride in his own lies are a threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the foundations of our democracy. If it goes unpunished it will not be a victory for one party or another; everyone loses.” “The truth still exists; the truth still matters,” Jackson said, echoing prosecutors’ closing arguments at trial in November. “Roger Stone’s insistence that it doesn’t, his belligerence, his pride in his own lies are a threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the foundations of our democracy. If it goes unpunished, it will not be a victory for one party or another. Everyone loses.”
She added, “The dismay and disgust at the defendant’s belligerence should transcend party.”She added, “The dismay and disgust at the defendant’s belligerence should transcend party.”
Trump, meanwhile, weighed in publicly from afar — again bucking Barr’s public and private warnings to stop talking about Justice Department criminal cases. In a tweet, the president compared Stone to former FBI director James B. Comey, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Trump has suggested that each of them should be charged. Trump, meanwhile, weighed in from afar — again bucking Barr’s public and private warnings to stop talking about Justice Department criminal cases. As the hearing was ongoing, the president, who was traveling on the West Coast, suggested in a tweet that Stone was being treated unfairly compared with political rivals he wants to see charged with crimes, including former FBI director James B. Comey, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who ran against him for president in 2016.
“‘They say Roger Stone lied to Congress.’ @CNN,” Trump wrote during the hearing, tagging the news network. “OH, I see, but so did Comey (and he also leaked classified information, for which almost everyone, other than Crooked Hillary Clinton, goes to jail for a long time), and so did Andy McCabe, who also lied to the FBI! FAIRNESS?” Not long after Stone’s hearing ended, Trump made similar comments in an appearance before former inmates in Las Vegas. Trump sought to make common cause over the criminal justice system. “These people know more about bad juries than everybody,” he said. Then he specifically attacked the panel and forewoman who decided Stone’s case.
Overnight, Trump also hinted he couldpardon Stone, tweeting a video clip in which Fox News host Tucker Carlson said, “President Trump could end this travesty in an instant with a pardon, and there are indications tonight that he will do that.” Carlson noted a series of pardons and commutations the president granted this week. “This is a woman who was an anti-Trump person, totally,” he said. “Is that a defrauding of the court? You tell me.”
Stone, 67, was convicted by a federal jury in November on seven counts of lying to Congress and tampering with a witness about his efforts to learn about hacked Democratic emails related to Clinton. Trump said he was “following this very closely, and I want to see it play out to its fullest because Roger has a very good chance of exoneration in my opinion.” But he added, “I’m not going to do anything in terms of the great powers bestowed upon a president of the United States. I want the process to play out.”
Prosecutors said the longtime GOP operative lied during testimony to the House Intelligence Committee in September 2017 to conceal his central role in the Trump campaign’s efforts to learn about computer files hacked by Russia and made public by WikiLeaks. Stone also threatened a witness who was an associate of his in an attempt to prevent the man from cooperating with lawmakers. Overnight, Trump had hinted he could pardon Stone, tweeting a video clip in which Fox News host Tucker Carlson said, “President Trump could end this travesty in an instant with a pardon, and there are indications tonight that he will do that.”
Stone, who did not speak in court, showed no visible emotion as the sentence was read. Emerging from the courtroom in a wide-striped suit and polka-dot tie, he appeared calm. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill, reiterated Trump’s right to grant clemency to his friend.
“Under our system of justice, President Trump has all the legal authority in the world to review this case, in terms of commuting the sentence or pardoning Mr. Stone for the underlying offense,” Graham wrote.
Stone, 67, was convicted by a federal jury on seven counts of lying to Congress and tampering with a witness about his efforts to learn about hacked Democratic emails related to Clinton.
A jury found the longtime GOP operative guilty of lying during testimony to the House Intelligence Committee in September 2017 to conceal his central role in the Trump campaign’s efforts to learn about computer files hacked by Russia and made public by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. Stone also threatened a witness who was an associate of his in an attempt to prevent the man from cooperating with lawmakers.
Stone did not speak in court and showed no visible emotion as the sentence was read. Emerging from the courtroom in a wide-striped suit and polka-dot tie, he appeared calm.
“I have nothing to say,” Stone said. “Thank you.”“I have nothing to say,” Stone said. “Thank you.”
Stone, his wife and a large entourage exited the courthouse to a large crowd of photographers, supporters and antagonists. As he climbed into an SUV, protesters shouted “Lock him up!” while supporters yelled “Pardon Roger Stone!”Stone, his wife and a large entourage exited the courthouse to a large crowd of photographers, supporters and antagonists. As he climbed into an SUV, protesters shouted “Lock him up!” while supporters yelled “Pardon Roger Stone!”
Prosecutors also left the courtroom without commenting and a Justice Department spokeswoman later declined to comment. Stone requested a new trial last week, after Trump suggested the forewoman in Stone’s case had “significant bias.” Jackson, the judge, said previously that she would delay implementing his sentence until she resolves that request. A filing is due from Stone’s defense team Monday. In addition to prison, Jackson ordered Stone to pay a $20,000 fine and serve two years of supervised release. He remains out of prison on bond, and even if he loses his motion for a new trial, he will have at least two weeks to turn himself in — unless an appeal further delays things.
On Friday, Stone had requested a new trial after Trump suggested the forewoman in Stone’s case had “significant bias.” Jackson said previously she would delay implementation of his sentence until she resolves that request. In addition to prison, Jackson ordered Stone to pay a $20,000 fine and serve two years of supervised release. The penalty capped an unusual sentencing hearing in which Jackson sought not only to resolve disputes between prosecutors and defense attorneys, but also to seek answers on the internal Justice Department haggling over what punishment the government would endorse.
The penalty capped an unusual sentencing hearing in which Jackson sought not only to resolve disputes between prosecutors and defense attorneys, but also seek answers on the internal Justice Department haggling over what punishment the government would endorse. The initial team of four career prosecutors recommended that Jackson impose a term of seven to nine years, only to see Trump tweet about the matter and Barr personally intervene. All four prosecutors then quit the case — with one leaving the government entirely — and their replacements filed a new recommendation suggesting that three to four years was “more typical” in cases like Stone’s.
The initial team of four career prosecutors recommended that Jackson impose a term of seven to nine years, only to see Trump tweet about the matter, and Barr personally intervene. All four prosecutors then quit the case — with one leaving the government entirely — and their replacements filed a new recommendation suggesting three to four years was “more typical” in cases like Stone’s.
Through email leaks and propaganda, Russians sought to elect Trump, Mueller findsThrough email leaks and propaganda, Russians sought to elect Trump, Mueller finds
Yet the new prosecutorin court Thursday defended his predecessors and argued for the same stiff sentencing enhancements as they had. Yet the new prosecutor in court Thursday defended his predecessors and argued for the same stiff sentencing enhancements as they had.
“The Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office is committed to following the law without fear favor or political influence,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb said. “This prosecution was and this prosecution is righteous.” “The Department of Justice and the United States attorney’s office is committed to following the law without fear, favor or political influence,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb Jr. said. “This prosecution was and this prosecution is righteous.”
Crabb said the court “should impose a substantial period of incarceration,” although he did not propose a specific number of months or years.Crabb said the court “should impose a substantial period of incarceration,” although he did not propose a specific number of months or years.
Jackson made clear she thought Stone’s crimes were serious. She called his House intelligence committee testimony “plainly false” and “a flat-out lie” and said his misdirection “shut out important avenues” for Congress to investigate. The judge said Stone knew his efforts to obtain damaging information from the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks about Clinton, who was then running against Trump, “could reflect badly on the president.” At the Justice Department, one senior official expressed relief that the sentence was more in line with Barr’s preferred recommendation than the career prosecutors’ guidance of seven to nine years. “It was messier than we wanted, but we ended up in the same place,” the official said.
Jackson acknowledged the politics surrounding the situation, That official, like others in this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
and pressed Crabb on why prosecutors filed two very different sentencing memos. She asked why the Justice Department ultimately chose to recommend bucking the guidelines in the case — when department policies do not let prosecutors argue for a sentence below the guidelines without approval — and questioned why Crabb was in court at all. Jackson called Stone’s testimony to Congress “plainly false” and “a flat-out lie,” and said his misdirection “shut out important avenues” for lawmakers to investigate. The judge said Stone knew his efforts to obtain damaging information about Clinton “could reflect badly on the president.”
Jackson acknowledged the case’s underlying political tension and pressed Crabb to explain why prosecutors filed two very different sentencing memos. She asked why the Justice Department ultimately chose to recommend bucking the guidelines — when department policies do not allow that without approval from supervisors — and questioned why Crabb was in court at all.
“I fear that you know less about this case than possibly anybody else in the courtroom,” Jackson said. “What is the government’s position today?”“I fear that you know less about this case than possibly anybody else in the courtroom,” Jackson said. “What is the government’s position today?”
Crabb said the original prosecutors on the case had approval from U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea to make their recommendation and that their filing was “done in good faith.” He said his understanding was there had been a “miscommunication” between Barr and Shea, centered around “what the expectations were from the attorney general and what the appropriate filing would be.” He apologized for the “confusion” — although even in court, his position seemed somewhat muddled. He refused to say whether he had written the softer sentencing recommendation, which bore his signature, because it would expose “internal deliberations.” Crabb said the case’s original prosecutors had approval from U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea to make their recommendation and that their filing was “done in good faith.” He said his understanding was there had been a “miscommunication” between Barr and Shea, centered on “what the expectations were from the attorney general and what the appropriate filing would be.” He apologized for the “confusion” — although even in court, his position seemed somewhat muddled. He refused to say whether he had written the softer sentencing recommendation, which bore his signature, because it would expose “internal deliberations.”
Prosecutors quit amid escalating Justice Dept. fight over Roger Stone’s prison term Stone had asked for probation, citing his age and lack of a criminal history.
Stone had asked for probation, citing his age and lack of criminal history. Defense attorney Seth Ginsberg said Stone is “a real person, not a media figure, not a political character, but a real person,” who is soon to be a great-grandfather. He emphasized Stone has “devoted himself” to various causes — including veterans, animal welfare and football players suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
Defense attorney Seth Ginsberg argued for mercy, saying Stone is “a real person, not a media figure, not a political character but a real person,” who is soon to be a great-grandfather. He emphasized Stone has “devoted himself” to various causes — including veterans, animal welfare and football players suffering from traumatic brain injuries — and has “worked to bridge racial divides in this country.”
That, he said, is “who Mr. Stone really is — not the larger than life political persona that he plays on TV, but the real person who goes home every day to his wife and his family.”That, he said, is “who Mr. Stone really is — not the larger than life political persona that he plays on TV, but the real person who goes home every day to his wife and his family.”
Ginsberg argued New York City comedian and radio host Randy Credico, the witness Stone was convicted of threatening, understood Stone was “all bark and no bite.” Credico appealed for leniency in a letter to the court, saying “Stone, at his core, is an insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention. . . . Prison is no remedy.” Ginsberg argued that New York City comedian and radio host Randy Credico, the witness Stone was convicted of threatening, understood Stone was “all bark and no bite.” Credico also appealed for leniency, saying in a letter to the court: “Stone, at his core, is an insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention. … Prison is no remedy.”
Jackson said that although seven to nine years was too harsh, probation would be too light. Stone, she said, had shown “flagrant disrespect for the institutions of government established by the Constitution, including the Congress and this court.”Jackson said that although seven to nine years was too harsh, probation would be too light. Stone, she said, had shown “flagrant disrespect for the institutions of government established by the Constitution, including the Congress and this court.”
She said read aloud some of Stone’s profane texts threatening to kill Credico and steal his dog. She read aloud some of Stone’s profane texts threatening to kill Credico and steal his dog.
“The defendant referred to this as banter, which it hardly is,” the judge said. “Nothing about this case was a joke; it wasn’t funny, it wasn’t a stunt and it wasn’t a prank.” “The defendant referred to this as banter, which it hardly is,” the judge said. “Nothing about this case was a joke. It wasn’t funny, it wasn’t a stunt and it wasn’t a prank.”
Jackson noted Stone threatened her personally during the trial and stirred up claims that the process was rigged. Doing so, she said, “willfully increased the risk that someone with even poorer judgment than” Stone would take action and put the entire courthouse in danger. Jackson noted that Stone threatened her personally during the trial and stirred up claims that the process was rigged. Doing so, she said, “willfully increased the risk that someone with even poorer judgment than” Stone would take action and put the entire courthouse in danger.
Barr’s intervention in Stone’s case set off a crisis for the Justice Department, where some prosecutors worried Trump — who tweeted the intial suggested penalty was “horrible and very unfair” — had pushed his chief law enforcement official to get involved in a criminal case because Stone was a friend. Barr, though, insisted in an ABC News interview he had made the decision independent of Trump, and issued a remarkable public rebuke, saying Trump’s tweets “make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts … and the department that we’re doing our work with integrity.”
This week, those close to Barr said the attorney general has told Trump advisers he has considered resigning over the president’s tweets. Trump, though, continued to tweet about the Stone case. Earlier this week, he suggested his friend deserved a new trial — just as the Justice Department, with Barr’s blessing, made clear it had opposed Stone’s request on that front. Like prosecutors, Barr has called Stone’s prosecution “righteous,” and added, “I was happy that he was convicted.”
Barr pushes back against Trump’s criticism of Justice Dept., says tweets ‘make it impossible for me to do my job’Barr pushes back against Trump’s criticism of Justice Dept., says tweets ‘make it impossible for me to do my job’
Stone is one of six Trump advisers and confidants who have either been convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe. That list includes former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos. Barr’s intervention in Stone’s case set off a crisis for the Justice Department, where some worried Trump — who called the penalty initially suggested by prosecutors “horrible and very unfair” — had pushed his chief law enforcement official to get involved in a criminal case because Stone was the president’s friend. Barr, though, insisted in an ABC News interview that he had made the decision independent of Trump and issued a remarkable public rebuke, saying Trump’s tweets “make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts … and the department that we’re doing our work with integrity.”
Stone’s two-week trial in November refocused attention on the Trump campaign’s keen appetite for dirt on its political opponents. The trial included testimony from former 2016 deputy campaign manager Gates, who testified he overheard a July 2016 phone call in which Trump himself seemed to discuss WikiLeaks with Stone. This week, those close to Barr said the attorney general has told Trump advisers that he has considered resigning over the president’s tweets. But Trump continued to tweet about the Stone case. This week, he suggested his friend deserved a new trial — just as the Justice Department, with Barr’s blessing, made clear it had opposed Stone’s request on that front. Like prosecutors, Barr has called Stone’s prosecution “righteous” and added, “I was happy that he was convicted.”
Roger Stone guilty on all counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering Senior Justice Department officials are increasingly resigned to the idea that Trump is likely to continue to publicly upbraid the department and the FBI and that it may be a theme of his reelection campaign — an incumbent president bashing his own Justice Department, one official said. But the official was also cautiously optimistic that the president seems to have avoided dragging Barr directly into those discussions in recent days.
The trial also highlighted Trump’s ongoing standoff with congressional Democrats, then conducting an impeachment inquiry into whether the president pressured Ukraine to bolster his 2020 reelection bid. Trump directed the White House to withhold documents and block testimony in the inquiry, which ended in a Senate acquittal. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.
Spencer Hsu and John Wagner contributed to this report. Stone is one of six Trump advisers and confidants who have either been convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation. That list includes former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos.
In Las Vegas, Trump sought to distance himself from his longtime friend. “I know Roger, but a lot of people know Roger,” he said. “Everybody sort of knows Roger.”
Spencer S. Hsu and John Wagner contributed to this report.
Who is Amy Berman Jackson, Roger Stone’s sentencing judge?Who is Amy Berman Jackson, Roger Stone’s sentencing judge?
Through email leaks and propaganda, Russians sought to elect Trump, Mueller findsThrough email leaks and propaganda, Russians sought to elect Trump, Mueller finds
Roger Stone guilty on all counts of lying to Congress, witness tamperingRoger Stone guilty on all counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering
Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.)Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.)
Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local newsLike PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local news