Suddenly the persecuted prosecutors who nobly resigned when their draconian sentencing recommendations were over ruled by the DOJ are no longer of interest. The fact that Judge Jackson imposed a sentence less than half of the recommend minimum validates the DOJ's retraction of the original recommendations. Once again, reality has blown away anti-Trump myth.
3
Is it true that he has a large tattoo of Richard Nixon on his back?
The DOJ should be removed from the Executive Branch and exist as a non-partisan, independent and stand alone department of the government, divorced from any executive branch interference or corruption.
8
How much longer can we take of this president tweeting and interfering in ongoing criminal cases? So now the jury was tainted so the judge should agree to a new trial? Trump is judge, jury and executioner. I'm really sick and tired of this. And I hope most Americans can join me in voting Trump out of office this upcoming November.
9
Every now and then, I wonder if another Civil War will break out in the un-United States of America.
There are enough weapons to go around. Trump has intimated that if he is not re-elected, violence might break out.
What has happened to a once great country?
Tjilpi -- Australia.
10
It should have been the nine as recommended but I would like it to be twenty.
6
Has there been an instance in the history of this country when a federal judge admonished the president of the country, though indirectly, the way Judge Amy Berman Jackson has done now?
The only surprising thing about this verdict is that the judge did not go for the full prison term the crime warranted and which the earlier prosecutors in the case had recommended. The abundance of evidence presented in the case justified a longer term. What more evidence is needed to justify it than the defendant's “Prepare to die” threat to one of the witnesses in the case?
Apart from the evidence, the judge was also convinced that in government inquiries, “The truth still matters.” Is the fear of retribution from this vindictive president that made her settle for a shorter term?
The Judge Jackson’s warning, without mentioning the president by name, that his constant attacks on federal judges, prosecutors and juries should be a wake-up call about the threats now endangering the country's judiciary should alarm both Democrats and Republicans alike.
Despite the lenient sentence, the president keeps saying that his criminal buddy was not treated fairly. Stone may be laughing away the sentence. Less than three hours after the sentencing, the president declared he should be “exonerated.” Which means that Mr. Stone's being pardoned by the president is only a matter of months, if not days. Is it the kind of justice system the founding fathers envisioned for the country?
10
The arrogant smirks on Stone’s and his wife’s faces purposely aimed at the cameras as they stepped into a limousine after his sentencing speaks to their anticipations of exoneration and the coming abrogation of justice they are gleefully anticipating. They knew from the beginning that this would all become political theater in Trump’s service. I’ll be surprised if he spends even an hour in jail. Lock him up.
6
Roger Stone knew he had a “Fet our of jail free card.” Why else would he put the presiding judge’s image as a crosshaired target? Or thumb his nose at every turn of his legal proceedings? He knew he could do all kinds of obscene things because he would be pardoned by Trump. And so the world niece knows that American justice is corrupt and tainted. Consequently, we will lose the cooperation of our allies when it comes to prosecuting civil and criminal cases. Thanks, my countrymen, for letting me down.
7
I hope the voters are watching. Roger Stone was in the middle of the Wikileaks-Russia communications. He knows some things and he chose to obstruct Justice.
The Russians are interfering in our elections again, according to our intelligence. Can we really tolerate 4 more years of this shady, treasonous behavior?
12
As a tax paying American I wholeheartedly support paying for the bodyguards Judge Jackson-Berman will surely need to protect her from the president of the United States and his base. The president! Our American president is attacking a judge for presiding over the conviction of a criminal, because he likes said criminal. If that doesn't smack of a political dictatorship, I don't know what does.
17
Since the judge in this case pointed out that contrary to what Stone said about "standing up for the president", what he actually did was "coverup for the president". Therefore, when Trump pardons Stone for "covering up" for him, that's not a gross abuse of power?
2
So now we can wait until Stone is denied a new trial. Upon denial, It would be perfectly fair if the Court saw fit to remand until after the inauguration of the next president be it Trump or anyone else. Oh, and Stone should actually be kept in jail until that day. Since Stone has already been found guilty, his time spent would absolutely count against his sentence.
3 years in prison, per an Obama-appointed judge? - not the 7-9 years those prosecutors recommended? Looks like Trump and Barr were right after all about that exaggerated sentence recommendation.
19
@HurryHarry Do you condone Stone’s conduct?
Just asking.
20
Yes, certainly Trump and Barr had no influence over this judge!
1
@HurryHarry 6 to 9 years is a suggested sentence for the crimes he committed. That is what is on the books. The judge always uses her or his discretion and makes the decision. Trump made alot of hoopala about nothing he knows about!
17
The President of the United States has the right to pardon absolutely anybody... So please, enough of the lamenting about a lack of judicial independence or the separation of powers... Instead, own it, the President holds absolute power to null federal convictions. Maybe the founding fathers were not as opposed to a King as is conventional wisdom. I don't think Alexander Hamilton had Roger Stone in mind when he wrote about the Presidential Pardon in Federalist Paper No. 74 that “without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel.”
Stone and Trump should get 25 years each for threatening the judge. And 25 years for each count.
14
This is a convicted criminal and a big waste of taxpayer money.
I hope they put Roger on a tough work detail in prison.
Maybe that will wipe that sickening grin off his face.
14
Cant New York or another state find some biolation of their laws for which to prosecute Stone?
6
Trump will pardon him if Trump is re-elected. If NOT RE_ELECTED, Mike Pence will pardon Trump.
@Trevor Diaz If Trump is not re-elected, Mike Pence will not be president and will not be pardoning anybody.
5
Anyone else notice the resemblance this adminstration has to a Batman comic? Donald as The Joker, Roger Stone as Penguin, William Barr as Arnold Flass (crooked cop), Steven Miller as Scarecrow, Melania as Poison Ivy but no Batman in sight though. Maybe Mitt Romney can be Commissioner Gorden and turn on the bat signal.
11
Why would our life long enemy and competitor in the world stage do everything possible to help Mr. Trump win an election, again? It just makes no sense, right Mr. Putin?
5
This sentence is not much different than the mandatory MINIMUM for someone possessing 5 lbs of pot in Texas (2 years, up to $10,000)
11
Anyone taking bets on how long it takes Trump to pardon him?
5
That’s why he is smiling. He know he will never see the inside of a cell
5
The sentencing judge apparently agreed with Trump that the DOJ recommendation was far too harsh. What was all the anti-Trump brouhaha about?
4
We now know how the opening sentence of Roger Stone’s obituary will be structured
Judge Jackson lowered the sentence and eliminated any excuse for the president to announce a pardon. When he goes ahead and does it, we will see further evidence that we are ruled by an illegitimate bully king.
To preserve our democracy, our patriotic duty is to vote the man out of office on November 4.
20
Would love to see this same judge prosecute trump one day soon for any number of his many transgressions. How fitting would that be?
11
This should disgust any, all Americans.
This criminal, this sleazy political fixer will never serve his sentence.
He'll remain free while his lawyers appeal and the President as the grateful recipient of those sleazy backroom fixins will pardon him before he finally made redundant;
when I'll grant he will follow the same convoluted, frustrating path in our attempt to seek justice.
7
Smiling ear to ear after being sentenced to the slammer? What a grotesque human.
19
When exactly does he begin serving his sentence?
7
His jailtime starts on the 30th of February.
@Papercut61 Precisely. Unless I missed it, the article does not mention when Stone is put in prison. Is he out on bail now, I don't keep up on all the goings on. A picture of him in an orange jumpsuit would be nice.
In view of all the vicious things this man has done in a lifetime of gleeful treachery, the sentence handed down today is a comparative slap on the wrist, especially in view of sentences imposed on other Americans, sometimes for a criminal act committed in one momentary lapse of conscience in isolation from an otherwise harmless life.
12
Judge Jackson, still did her job. Stone got a lesser sentence. What does this say about our justice system? Does this mean, we have two justice systems. One for the privileged, and another for everyone else? Is someone going to come forward and say - we need to review all pending cases in the Courts? Because, following the Stone example, there will be an argument that law enforcement, prosecutors and everyone are biased. and pending cases should be allowed a new trial?
3
I guess that you say that anytime a judge imposes less than the maximum penalty, the system is corrupt. Prosecutors are never wrong. Ask Kamala Harris.
2
Wonder if he had his red Bible in his hand when he was sentenced it was a good MAGA prop during his criminal trial.
1
The headline should read "Roger Stone is Sentenced to "Only" 3 Years in Prison."
9
Crime pays!
4
A brilliant sentence...Less than 1/2 of the original sentencing guidelines.
Now Trump can't justify a pardon on the basis that the sentence was too harsh...
2
At least now we can stop pretending that this country has a fair judicial system and that everyone is treated equally under it. Because that's never been accurate and now it's an open fact.
22
Hillary Clinton didn’t go to prison and neither did James Comey. Not for a single day. Is that what you mean by a fair judicial system? Or is it simply a matter of politics?
7
Confused,
Neither one was indicted, tried, and convicted for anything. Does that clear up your confusion?
16
About 10 comments. That’s how many I had to scroll through before somebwhatabouter mentioned Hillary Clinton.
This case does not involve Hillary Clinton. It has nothing to do with her. It has everything to do with the guy who is actually President right now, who has publicly decided to insert himself into the sentencing process of his own political crony.
But I get that it’s easier to bring up the case of somebody who hasn’t had a political position for three years now instead of trying to defend the people we’re actually talking about - because they’re indefensible.
11
One mans cell is filled with the ghosts of past futures . Roger Stone will have a slice of his life removed in isolation and he will never forget it . . Boomo
2
@La Guillotine Not likely if President Trump gets a second term. The groundwork is being laid for a pardon. Reason Stone is smiling in the photo while leaving the Federal Courthouse. And to create even more consternation, it is very probable many Federal prosecutors now feel at risk in job security. Deep State or Presidential interference. Depends on your viewpoint.
4
that headline should have been
"Roger Stone Sentenced to ONLY Three Years" rather than "Roger Stone Sentenced to OVER Three Years".
13
You got it.
5
Haha. Great minds. I was just approved by the NYT for the same comment.
For seven felonies, Roger Stone got three years in Club Fed, two years Probation, and a twenty thousand dollar fine to cover a million dollars in court costs. Amy? Who reached you? Who bought you? Who threatened you? Who made you an offer you couldn't refuse? The sentence is an outrage and a miscarriage of justice. I've seen Black teenagers get four years for selling a hundred dollars of crack. Three years for obstructing Congress and threatening to kill a witness? Amy! Are you serious?
22
I think Trump is waiting for Kim K's point of view and advice.
2
Oh, he’ll be pardoned fully. Rest assired.
5
I love Stone's hats. He looks like a comic villain out of Batman. Trump has introduced us to some of the weirdest people ever. Now this is truly entertainment. Four more years please.
5
Am I correct in believing that the DOJ is opposing Stone's motion for a new trial ? If so, Trump won't like it and give Barr a hard time. If Barr then orders Crabb to go before Judge Jackson and tell her that the DOJ has changed its mind again and now supports Stone's motion for a new trial, the discredit of the DOJ will be complete. I feel very sorry for the 10,000 or so highly competent and ethical attorneys working for Barr.
8
Well done Judge Jackson. You are my hero.
Thank you for your courage and for dong the right thing.
3
I'm actually surprised that the judge actually folded in this matter. I realize it'll all be moot when Trump waves his crooked magic wand but I still hoped the judge would stand firm.
I'd be more sad about yet another thing that Trump is doing but I take solace knowing that what happened to his father IS now happening to him. Soon enough, Donald Trump will be the only one in the world that doesn't know who Donald Trump is.
2
"Roger Stone Receives Reduced Sentence of a Little Over 3 Years in Prison"
There, I fixed it for you.
7
What is the going rate for a pardon these days? from hosting a lucrative fundraiser for the well heeled to getting out the vote for the small time drug offenders, I doubt that pardons come free or with some form of quid pro quo.
3
Dear Attorney Crabb,
Thank you---against the vicious, insidious, and criminal odds perpetrated by both Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, and William Barr, Attorney General of the United States of America---for doing your level best to stand for the United States Constitution and the Rule of Law in today's sentencing hearing of disgraced felon, Roger Stone.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson, thank you, too, for doing your best to render judgment in as impartial a manner as possible in this case. Frankly, I believe that Mr. Stone deserved the maximum sentence of 9 years put forth by prosecutors in this case. However, that Mr. Stone will serve at least 40 months in prison---assuming Mr. Trump does not further desecrate the office of the presidency and continue to destroy both the fact and/or spirit of the Rule of Law---satisfies at least a smidgeon of the harm he has caused our nation.
Republican politicians and Trump supporters who continue to stand by this president have the blood of our democracy on their hands.
13
I hope The Times publishes the full text of the Judge's remarks on sentencing.
It will help everyone understand a matter of high interest and a clear voice that we will not tolerate the corruption of our judicial system--or our spirit. by being forced to witness it.
8
Stone won't be in jail long enough before Putin's agent here in America pardon's him.
5
Does anyone know what the Vegas line is on his pardon?
1
Put up $10 and you can get $1,000,000 back if there is no pardon. Trump and Pence could be struck simultaneously by lightning. That’s what you’d be betting on.
5
"In announcing the 40-month sentence..."
Judge Jackson rejected the prosecutors' arguments for a sentence of 87 to 106 months. Her sentence is in the middle of the range suggested by the DOJ's much-vilified amended sentencing memorandum.
So maybe the prosecutors got it wrong, and their sentencing recommendation really was wildly excesssive. And to have let it stand could have led to an injustice. What should Barr have done?
Or is our new standard that if the guilty party is an unsympathetic cretin like Roger Stone and he is supported by "barking clown" of a president, then injustice +is+ justice.
Fortunately for all of us, Judge Jackson doesn't think so.
It's worth noting text from the conclusion of the amended memorandum:
"The defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration...."
"Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case."
Both those happened today.
4
Three years is a lot more sensible and rational than the original 7- 9 years. I mean, very often killers and rapists get out before 7-9 years, so this sentence is much more fair. Unless you are a Bernie Madoff type (somehow who harmed others, even w/o physical violence) a couple of years for lying to the feds should suffice.
3
@boji3
"...very often killers and rapists get out before 7-9 years..."
Yep.
Mike White got 7 years for murdering Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone. He served 5 years.
4
@garagesaler. And the Dan White verdict (and his twinke defense) were very controversial. It’s also very rare. There are thousands of people incarcerated for decades and even life for the possession of a few ounces of marijuana. Roger stone got less than he deserved. Lying to Congress, threatening a judges life and intimidating a witness and more are serious crimes.
On another note, having a tattoo of Nixon on your back is a crime against humanity.
7
Judge Berman apparently intended to retire in a week or two.
1
“We will watch the process and watch it very closely,” the president added. “And at some point, I will make a determination.”
Determination? What determination? There is no “determination” for this luridly horrible man to make. The court system has made its own determination, the only legitimate one. An intervention by Trump at any point would be an insult to democracy and could only occur because, willy nilly, he throws off a couple of centuries of intended isolation of the president from the justice system.
And one wonders, Mr. Trump, why this “process” is of such interest to you, rather than all the other “unfair” instances in the nation’s justice system, most of them related to the poor. The poor don’t get a scintilla of attention, Mr Trump, because they have nothing to offer you, do they? They’re not your corrupt cronies.
How naive I was! To think that, all my life, I had just assumed that American democracy was of such sturdiness that it could not possibly disintegrate under the efforts of one man in so few years!
11
This is a person, who in the larger picture, contributes nothing, produces nothing, adds nothing to society. His only "function" is to subtract, with subterfuge, disinformation and malevolent skullduggery. He is a virus. Slime. Zero redeeming value.
He helped create a situation, with Wikileaks and Russian interference, that continues to threaten our functional democratic system of government. He thumbs his nose at the laws of the land, and publicly threatens the judge. His only hope is corrupt assistance from those he illegally helped place in power.
I know there is a double-jeopardy rule but I do hope he is hit with additional charges when a new administration comes to power and sanity and the rule of law again hold sway. 40 months, if he even serves it, is a tap on the wrist for this remorseless criminal.
12
Why bother? Justice means nothing anymore.
8
If an Obama-appointee judge concluded only 40 months was the right sentence, it is clear the original prosecutors grossly over-recommended a 7 to 9 year sentence.
An Obama-appointed judge concluded Stone deserved less than half the bottom-end sentence originally recommended.
DOJ needs a house cleaning.
6
@Frank Judges very often hand down lesser sentences than the guidelines call for. That's normal. Prosecutors generally ask for more than they expect to get, and defense attorneys for less. That's normal too. It's part of the process.
What is NOT normal is a president publicly objecting to DoJ guidelines on behalf of a personal friend in a pending case - a friend who is on trial for tampering with an election in favor of that very president, of covering up corrupt actions on behalf of that president, and of using threats of violence to do so.
And it is NOT normal for the DoJ to then accede to the president's personal wishes in such a matter - a mater, again that touches the president personally, and in which his actions can very plausibly be thought to stem from corrupt intent.
No, not normal at all, and the fact that it apparently seems so to you suggests we've travelled a long way down a bad road in just three years
2
I guess the good judge ultimately agreed with Trump. She also thought a 9 year sentence (proposed by Justice dept. prosecutors) was hugely out of proportion.
5
Yet, another watered down, crooked sentence from Crooked Barr and Crooked trump. It's going to get worse. trump is probably going to be selling get out jail passes, if he has not already. How low can our nation sink? Much lower.
8
Jackson capitulated. The sentence was less than half the 7-9, that guidelines held.
As for Crabb, just a scab in what was a justifiable strike by the 4 DOJ Attorneys who prosecuted this case.
1
Roger you know what you are: like Trump. Don’t worry, time will catch up to you and you, like Trump, will spend your waning years behind bars. Of this I have no doubt.
6
It should never be offense for a civilian to lie under any circumstance. It should ALWAYS be an offense for any government actor or agent to lie EVER.
2
Huh? Lying under oath before a court is always illegal. This is called rule of law and it applies to everyone.
6
Three years!?
He deserves more for that ridiculous outfit alone.
12
Who smiles upon learning that they are to spend 3 years in jail? Someone who already knows they will not spend a day behind bars. The fix is in.
20
Stone and pals, smug smiles all around, knowing the gangster club will bail him out. Hard times for what's left of democracy.
17
Trump will continue to behave like a dictator, interfering in the Judicial processes. He is certain to grant Clemency to Roger Stone
after publicly bragging about the powers afforded the President of the USA.
This is more like the Cosa nostra.
14
I thought the charge was threatening the life of a witness. Is this true?
2
That smug face is not the natural expression one would use after being sentenced to 3 years in prison. Out by Monday?
8
What’s Trump gonna do when he’s in jail 5 years from now. Who’s gonna pardon him?
8
He smiles. He smiles and you can see the smugness in that smile. Because having friends in high laces pay off.
This Goverment needs to grow a back bone. All of it. No blue ir red, right left or kitty corner. All if it.
You want to be great nation m, show me you can stand by morality and ethics. Show US you have the guts to do what is right.
10
Wait 24 hours.
7
Trump corruption is rampant, and if he overturns this fair trial, it would be an egregious abuse of power
Stone was convicted by a jury of his peers, and a jury selected in part by his defense team. It was a fair trial, and Stone was convicted fairly for the crimes he did for trump.
Does anyone think that a president should be able to pardon someone who commits crimes for that same president ?
17
No-one seriously believes William Barr wants to rein-in Trump do they? Had Barr been really outraged by the President's involvement in a criminal trial after the man in the dock was found guilty by a jury of series charges, then he would have followed his Justice Department colleagues and resigned. Instead, Barr negotiated what Trump wanted - which was a seriously reduced sentence, that will doubtless be followed by a reduction by the President, or even a pardon. Nothing surprises anyone about Trump's megalomaniacal tendencies any more.
10
Recipe for ironic justice:
1. Stone is granted a new trial
2. The new trial lasts past January 20, 2021
3. A Democratic president is inaugurated
4. Stone is convicted again, and his new sentence is harsher than the first
5. The new Democratic president lets whatever sentence stand
6. Bonus: Trump winds up in jail next to him
22
Now that stone is a convicted felon, his potential utility as a trump cabinet member is soaring. He would, for example, be an excellent fit to work for billy barr in Justice or willy ross over at Commerce. Inmates at Leavenworth are probably madly working on their resumes. Who knows what White House doors one's rap sheet might open?
8
Lead on the story might have been written differently, accentuating the positive, as in"Stone given barely the minimum sentence of LESS than three years."
3
We’re witnessing, in real time, the greatest nation on earth being taken over by a handful of mobsters. And the GOP Senators sit idly by.
27
The arrogance of this man reflects his buddy in the Whitehouse.
14
I'll be very surprised if Stone spends more than a month or two in prison. We now live under a mafia-like leader who will protect all those who kiss his ring. Its an autocracy and the most disturbing part of all this is the number of U.S. citizens who think that's ok. I thought (and still hope!) that our system was more balancing and resilient than that.
8
I'm not defending Roger Stone. However, the FBI and law enforcement who arrested Stone in that terrible home invasion demonstrated to everyone just how out-of-control they are! Yes, they have power. And clearly, they abused it. I am very concerned that Wray is a no-nothing Director and he has no intention of reigning any of them in. He needs to be replaced!
4
The need for everyone who is horrified by Trump and the rapid erosion of our democracy, needs to vote! If everyone who can vote, votes Trump out, we may be able to save our country and the world. Roger Stone is just one of the many immoral, money grubbing charlatans that Trump has surrounded himself with forever. Let’s clean out the White House and the Senate ASAP.
13
If Trump legitimately had factual information that his friend was innocent, Trump should have testified at Roger’s trial.
Trump showed us he was cowardly disloyal to his friend and failed to be there for him.
In all the criminal prosecutions I have seen, friends who have nothing to fear show up and tell the truth for their friends on trial.
What a cowardly cry baby, and you conveniently omit your friend lied to Congress.
12
Look, things could always be worse: DT could pose shirtless on a horse.
17
@Warren the horror! The horror!
3
Justice in the United States if you aren't a crony of Trump: Sad and Unfair.
2
Stone got what he deserved, maybe not enough. However, the bigger issue here is with Trump. Every time he opens his mouth about our justice system and how unfair it is to his cronies makes me realize that this country is truly living in a nightmare.
14
Anyone seen Jared Kushner lately? Somethings going down...
7
Trump needs him pardoned and out so Stone can direct more Russian meddling and collusion for Trump and the GOP.
11
Just to keep everyone honest with a hypocrisy check, President Clinton lied before the whole nation and before a grand jury that "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."
And although less clownish and vulgar then Trump, he is arguably the more depraved morally for taking advantage of a young intern to receive sexual favors in the White House, indignantly denying it to the denigration of the young woman's character, and then when surprise evidence turned up proving his guilt, becoming suddenly solemn and apologetic.
1
Trump has been credibly accused of assaulting 22 woman and raping one of ex-wives.
15
@Bill Keating
Really?? Way to compare consensual, yet inappropriate sex, and lying about it with a complete criminal enterprise being run by the Grifter and his cronies. Talk about “what about-ism” ...
14
Thanks for keeping us honest...said no Trump supporter with a straight face, ever.
13
With Roger locked up, Donald may be able to control any harmful statements the former might make, ya think?
1
I can't tell from the story or the video. Is he in jail, or what?
If Comey, Clinton, McCabe, Brennan and Clapper are not to be indicted for their crimes than neither should Stone be persecuted. I look forward to his pardon. MAGA!
4
And yet, Barr’s justice department did investigations and couldn’t find anything to prosecute those people on, including Hillary, Comey, and McCabe. Just because Trump says someone should be in jail doesn’t make it true. OTOH, everyone around DJT seems to be being found guilty and is either in jail or on their way.
4
Four more years! Four more years!
3
By then the bald eagle will be extinct from the polluted rivers.
12
@Ferdie14 do you want Stone’s sentence extended?
7
Headline from The Beaverton (a satirical website in these parts):
"Roger Stone sentenced to wait several days for presidential pardon"
8
Trump, you say Roger was treated unfairly?
Bottom line, Roger was accused of lying for you.
Please provide all evidence in your possession or personal knowledge that shows that Roger was truthful.
A mere statement of unfairness is meaningless. Show us the evidence you rely upon.
Else hush yourself.
6
Personally; don’t we expect all con-men, like Trump and Stone and company to lie and help each other to get away with it? After all they do believe that the rest of the citizenry are nothing but stupid marks.
The only true surprise in this would be if Trump and Barr had chosen not to get involved!
4
Game respect game...
As I believe people in general are subjected to unduly harsh prison sentences in general, I really have no objection to the 40 month sentence handed Mr. Stone. It might also be time to look at the draconian sentences given many drug offenders under our insane minatory minimum sentencing laws. But they are not white friends of Trump. While many real drug kingpins who have others they can rat out are given slaps on the wrist and allowed to keep their assets which would otherwise be subject to civil forfeiture. However the continually lying and calls for the use of the judicial system to punish his political enemies remains a threat to our system of justice and Trump's belief he is dictator. And the fact that he cannot bring himself to tell the truth yet again shows Trump to be a dangerously mentally ill manor at best a serial iair and a threat to both the US and the world.
4
LB did you notice the criminal justice reforms that President Trump signed into law?
Roger Stone is a word smith. He lives to talk and he loves to say outrageous things.
Stone shoots off his mouth and then chases after it. Some people are just like that. They entertain their friends, acquaintances and the public.
So, he threatens to steal a guy's dog. And you don't get to hear his tone of voice. And the guy says he didn't take the threat seriously. The guy claims the dog as an emotional support animal and gets ribbed by his associates for doing so.
This is a malicious prosecution, part of an attempt by partisan operators, to punish people who work for the President.
I'm watching a law school lecture about talking to "law enforcement". Essentially, they are saying, don't do it. The FBI doesn't record conversations. And they write their notes after the interview. Have you ever looked at your doctor's notes? You would be surprised how many errors get into those notes. With or without malice, there is no excuse for not recording interviews.
Someone was revealed to have falsified FBI records, doing it after the report was written. And those lies were taken to the FISA court to let Obama's supporters in the FBI wiretap Trump's private phones at the Trump tower. Oddly enough, an effort hasn't been made into prosecuting this very real criminal act.
Hillary and her retinue were supposed to have been given a pass by people in the FBI for acts related to maintaining an unauthorized email server and placing secret information on it.
2
What is in our future if these greaseballs control the senate and the White House again?
Workers rights?
Human rights?
Tax reform?
Health?
The deplorables are maintaining a polluted country as the swamp they come from, and they will let the water rise till martial law is instated and privately run jails expand on taxpayer dollars.
4
The tip of the iceberg of Trump's antics are on display for the world to see. This is why the Republican Senators voted to acquit Trump? So he could carry on like a mad king? Any comment from the Republicans who shielded Trump from having to account for his crimes? Any comment from Republicans who chose not to allow evidence or witnesses at Trump's impeachment trial? The corrupt and demented behavior of the President is what you were protecting? Senators who have no moral revulsion towards Trump need to resign and spend some time in seclusion until you feel your conscience again.
4
I feel like we are reading a John Grisham novel right now.... Even Mr Grisham couldn't have made up such a plot for one of his books and sold it. No one would buy this book as its beyond "fiction"...
we are in an "disappear-fiction" era. I look forward to the next chapter. The plot thickens people....
I say.... Roger Stone has won the lottery!
1
Bill Barr is upset because Trumps's criticism of the Department of Justice makes more overt Barr's on-going collusion with Trump to politicize the office of the attorney general and undermine the rule of law.
5
Roger Stone is a provocateur hired over and over by Republican Party overlords. People like James Baker III who sent Stone to Miami-Dade County, Florida to harrass and shutdown the recount of votes made during the 2000 United States presidential election.
On November 22, 2000, the so-called "Brooks Brothers riot" was a successful campaign of physical intimidation using hundreds of paid GOP operatives with at least half a dozen of the demonstrators paid by George W. Bush's recount committee.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Brothers_riot
On the day of Roger Stone's sentencing for recent crimes and when a Republican President is pleading his innocence, remember an important fact:
Donald Trump's campaign WAS ASSISTED by FBI Director Comey who announced the reopening of the investigation into Hillary's emails.
Giuliani had intimated to something big coming - on Fox, just days earlier. Undoubtedly, his ties into the NY FBI Office were going to leak knowledge of emails on seized laptop, if Comey stayed silent. Point being --- Trump was not, is not a victim. Our democracy is always the victim of an array of Republican provocateurs.
Remember Roger Stone's short sentence and his protectors, so you'll remember Republicans will do anything to seize power.
4
I imagine that NY state prosecutors are just waiting to drop the hammer on Stone with state charges should Trump decide to pardon him, which would now be permitted after the "Trump-pardon loophole" to the state's double jeopardy statute was recently closed.
2
@Dan88 Except Bill Barr has inserted himself into the SDofNY cases and is interfering with the prosecutor’s work.
3
Do consider that Judge Jackson’s sentence was strategically chosen as to not now be easily dismissed as too severe, will make it actually harder to pardon on that basis alone. Forty months is light, pardoning it outright now only looks bad.
1
It seems to me that the judge handed down the hardest sentence she could that would not give an obvious handle to Trump for him to use as an excuse to pardon Stone. I still think he will pardon Stone, but probably at a time that something more headline-grabbing is going on.
1
Interesting that there is no mention that the jury foreman was a partisan activist. It's good that he's been released on bail pending appeal, because the conviction is going to be reversed. Stone won't even need a pardon.
2
Less interesting that Trumpists and Russian bots try this guff.
That fact about the foreman was known to the defense team during jury selection. It won’t get them a new trial.
1
In the circumstances, a remarkably light sentence. Now let's see see if he serves a day of it.
2
Judge Amy Berman Jackson:
Mr. Stones efforts to thwart a legitimate congressional inquiry of national importance were, “a threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the very foundation of our democracy.”
Adding,“The dismay and the disgust at the attempts by others to defend his actions as just business as usual in our polarized climate should transcend party,” she said.
Nice words and ideas, all made IRRELEVANT due to the occupation of the White House by Donald J. Trump.
3
I know the far left identity politics obsessed hate Mr Stone because they blame him for Trump, but I do have some misgivings about a political activist, no matter with poor ethics, (of either side) being locked up. The whole Russia probe was basically the globalist political establishment lashing out in frustration at losing. It came to nothing because there was no evidence of collusion. The KGB and now the CCP will always try to mess us up because they are in a Cold War against the free world, but they did not make any material difference to the result. The election was lost by Mrs Clinton for clear long term economic reasons in the ignored rust belt, extremist political correctness and identity politics out of control, and because existing visa laws were not even being enforced on the southern border. If Trump had of lost the election(it was very close in several states), the reality is Mr Stone would not be in jail, and that is very disturbing for US democracy. It sets a precedent that Democrats might have pause to think through for the future when they win. Trump will pardon him as the US founders intended but the precedent is set now sadly. The first US political prisoner that will not be the last.
1
@Silence
If he committed crimes, he is not a political prisoner.
Perjury and perjury of Congress are both crimes. Mr Stone is a grown up. He knew exactly what he was doing.
7
Well, POTUS seems to have held is fire.
That's a good thing.
To sacrifice a great AG Barr over this 1 bit player was not worth it.
I also wish POTUS would really learn when he says "let the process work its way."
He has the ultimate power that no one in Congress can challenge - power of a pardon.
If he feels about this injustice so strong enough - after appeals etc are exhausted - with a stroke of pen - he can make Stone "whole" again.
And Mr. POTUS - that's part of process too.
I was fearing AG resignation today - luckily, sanity seems to have prevailed.
With the last of Mueller victims sentenced - POTUS should focus his fire on Democrats and not his own government.
After reelection - there is a plenty of time to settle scores even before Jan 21, 2021 - the start of his 2nd term.
If he misbehaves and puts DOJ in turmoil again and AG resigns - it is his enemies who will settle scores on Jan 21, 2021 starting at about 1:00 pm
Roger Stone should appeal this conviction, due to the perjury of the jury foreman. She was, and is, a highly partisan Democratic politico who testified to the judge that she didn't know much about Riger Stone, while having published posts against him as one of Trump's team. A fixed jury, partisan prosecutors, and a judge who is puzzlingly deferential to the prosecution.
If I hadn't studied US political history I would be surprised. But yellow journalism is the pattern and not the exception in the United States. And so is highly partisan, patronage based, civil service. George Bush Senior, having been head of the CIA, realized that he was inheriting a Democratic crew. He had to move them out, to other assignments, to put in his own team. Trump's mistake was in thinking that he was inheriting honest civil service employees and not following the same strategy.
2
@Analyst As has been stated a number of times the defense attorneys had ample opportunity to challenge the jury members.
Trump suspects everyone of being biased even though civil servants do what is required of the irrespective of which government is in power.
Where Trump is concerned everything that he feels is not in his interests is a conspiracy against him. He has shown his disdain for the law so often it is impossible to keep count.
One should feel more sympathy for those who Trump has defrauded over the years and those he has refused to pay for their labo on behalf of hims interests.
1
Stone needs to be pardoned asap so he and his wife can resume their swinging ways — something Evangelical “Christians” mightily approve.
What’s the delay, Donald?
People might think your are not a dictator — pardon this convicted traitor now!
21
Was he taken into custody? The article does not seem to specify and if not, when does he have to surrender assuming the moron trump does not issue another high profile pardon?
3
@TFriday Judge will rule on his motion for a new trial. If he doesn’t get one then off to the old Graybar Hotel.
the video in this article shows 4 big cops escorting roger stone from the building to his car and 1 cop actually holds the door for stone -
this convicted felon is being treated so unfairly...
16
Get caught with a dime bag twice, do twenty years hard time.
Conspire with a foreign adversary to undermine an election, lie to congress, threaten judges and tamper with witnesses, get three years at white collar spa camp with time off for good behavior.
The judge needs to explain why she was so far from the sentencing guidelines.
25
@Kurt We have an adversarial form of justice, meaning that the prosecution (U.S. attorneys, on behalf of the people) typically argue for a stringent sentence, while the defense attorneys argue for leniency. In this case, the Attorney General Barr intervened and basically joined the defense team and asked for leniency. There was nobody arguing that the court should bring the hammer down on Trump. Sure, the judge could have done it herself, but why should she carry government's water if they refuse to?
2
He won’t serve a day.
If Donald Trump pardons Roger Stone, then he and his criminal cabal will have shown that democracy in America is dead, and our US Constitution has been shredded.
14
Trump and the GOP shredded it a long time ago. Stone will be pardoned, it's only a question of when.
3
Why is Roger Stone smiling so much in these photos?
17
@Maridee: Weird Scenes Inside the Stone Mind
1
Because he has dirt on Trump and he knows he will be pardoned
5
I bet he doesn’t serve one day in jail trump will pardon him
11
I generally have difficulty feeling compassion for Stone because he really is pretty scummy, but... If you take into account the government behavior (SWAT raid to arrest him along with the CNN tip off), the problems with the jury forewoman who blatantly lied about not having any biases and the incredibly punitive sentence recommendation, it does look like Stone has real grounds for a mistrial. It doesn't make me feel good, but if we start using law enforcement to punish the people we don't like it's hard to complain when those same powers are used against you.
6
She did not lie about not having biases. She admitted them and was accepted by both lawyers.
You do realize it was a unanimous verdict... right?
8
@Locke_ "people we don't like"?! He was convicted of crimes by a jury!!
5
More time than I expected. However, if the President interferes with the incarceration then it will be up to the people to determine if the President is worthy of remaining in office.
3
The People have already determined whether the president is worthy of remaining in office, the GOP firewall will not last forever.
I was told that Judge Jackson had the right to directly question the Justice Department as to why they changed the recommended sentence time from the standard recommended 7-9 years.
Did she?
7
Thank you, federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson. This is what the non-partisan judiciary does every day. While GOP Senators gave up power for tax cuts and re-election, we are fortunate in having another co-equal branch of government. They are all that is standing between us and a senate enabled dictatorship.
5
Trump -- now he's soft on crime?
"I have to tell you, you know, the laws are so horrendously stacked against us, because for years and years, they've been made to protect the criminal. Totally made to protect the criminal." D. Trump
12
He’s a madman. Basically, he doesn’t agree with the fundamental tenet of the American judicial system, which is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
He only believes that applies to himself and his cronies. Everyone else is guilty without a trial.
3
For sure Stone will get pardoned. But President Trump should start worrying about who will pardon him after the Dems win in November. There will be some anxious DAs waiting for citizen Trump.
8
He got caught.
How very unfair!
9
I think presidential pardoning is a privilege that should be revoked. No president should be allowed to do such a thing.
16
Does the commentor and all who Liked the comment, not know that the pardon power is not a “privilege” that can be “revoked,” but a power enshrined in the Constitution?
Is Civics still taught in high schools?
I agree that Trump's crimes along with his cronies like Stone are outrageous. Barr condones this behavior as does the entire Republican roll call in the Senate, except for Romney. Sleazy is an euphemism for Trump and the GOP.
Rule of Law, an old phrase the GOP has rendered obsolete.
Given how the D candidates are chewing each other up now we may have a second Trump term: Then our democracy will be Gone with the Wind.
3
Coming soon to a federal prison near you: Criminal cronies of the president who are not pardoned outright will be given time off for bad behavior.
How long until he's pardoned?
3
The betting is now open for how long it will take King Donald to forgive and "exonerate" his knave.
I wonder if at least three or four additional Republican senators aren't ashamed of themselves by now for barring witnesses and documentation at the impeachment trial. Or is this what they wanted?
2
Ashamed??!! Of course not—this indeed is what they wanted or they understood what McConnell and Graham wanted and were not about to consider ethics, principles, or morals!
1
Barr and Stone (and all the rest); the undoing of The United States of America.
We take our fragile democracy for granted. This is it people...this is how it unwinds.
3
I've said all along that Trump and his merry band of criminals should be investigated under the RICO statute, being an ongoing criminal enterprise. Normal, piecemeal, prosecution just can't get to the heart of the matter. Especially when Trump wields pardon power.
5
Trump and his crime family continue to play the American people every day in every way. In the unlikely event that Stone has to serve a single day at Club Fed, I hope he is on the receiving end of a dirty trick or two.
11
Aww and he was such a nice man. Hope the boys like Nixon tattoos.
10
I give it until Friday; slower news day, weekend....he'll be pardoned.
5
Nope. Not until his last day in the WH, unless he’s re-elected.
1
Why is he sitting in a Restaurant after Court? He should be in a Jump Suit.
9
Let Stone share a cell with Trump, who should be sent to prison for life. One can work on his fashion sense; the other on losing his orange glow, which will be replaced by an orange work suit
11
Who needs a judicial system when "El Jefe Donaldo" is in charge? Porche Miseria!
6
He deserved 9+--the maximum sentence. But, Trump is now King and the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Land, so, you know.....
The poor get poorer and the rich and connected skate.
6
Three years? Stone won't be in three weeks before Donny springs his closest henchman.
3
I’m sure he will be pardon as soon as Trump sees fit.
Total waste of time.
He'll be pardoned so fast it will make your head spin.
1
When I think of the 20, 30, and some 40 years young men of color receive for MUCH less, it sickens me that this traitor got off so easily!
16
Stone's smug grin says it all! Trump is following the mobster morals he's used his whole life threatening exoneration.
How can we countenance such a flagrant abuse of justice!?
5
Once again everything out of Donald Trump’s mouth is pure garbage. The stench every time he opens his mouth is almost unbearable, it’s no longer funny, and it’s no longer deplorable. It’s an insult to all of America and he needs to be dealt with forcefully , unapologetically and by any legal means possible.
Hopefully the Southern District of New York will have enough to throw this aberration of a man in jail after he becomes a private citizen. He barely deserves to be called an American anymore since he has betrayed the very country he professes to protect.
7
Lucky for Stone that he’s white and has Nixon on has back.
4
I am astonished at the choices made by the NY Times for its headlines and word choices. "...sentenced to over 3 years.." Zero context. "Less than half the original recommendation", how about that? And the acceptance of the idea that Barr is anything but Trump's pooch .... Barr doesn't like his actions being spotlighted, that's all. It has nothing to do with him having one iota of integrity.
7
Mr Trump said that he wanted to see Roger Stone "treated fairly". But in response we must ask if everyone that Donald Trump has interacted with has been treated fairly by Donald Trump himself. He can't expect fair treatment only for those of whom he approves. Trump has treated so many in his public life unfairly he is the last person in the world to be talking about "fairness". What a hypocrite!!!
1
Roger Stone's next back tattoo, right under his Nixon tat: Donald Trump
4
We are watching in real time, a death of a democracy.
It saddens me to think of members of my family who were in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, all fighting for democracy only to have one of our own take us down. Truely, everything Trump touches dies!!!
15
Breathtakingly awful, the derailing of American justice, once the envy of the world: A commitment to justice by skilled and dedicated prosecutors that went into the conviction of this sneering, unrepentant felon; a wise and considered sentence by a distinguished federal judge; and now, our tinpot dictator will pardon him.
4
At this point, we are witnessing a hostile crime family taking over this nation for the preservation of their own ego and finances. Nice going, Deplorables.
13
Judge Jackson should have DOUBLED the prosecutors' recommendation in recognition of the double-tampering with justice provided by Trump, in addition to Stone's own illegality!
7
When i was a young college student majoring in Political Science, i thought it strange that the Constitution would grant a President the power to pardon those convicted of crimes.
What i didn't see coming is that one day we would have a lawless president pardoning his lawless friends.
5
@Margaret: Narcissists don't have "friends"; they just have punks (doing their bidding) like themselves.
It appears that Judge Jackson caved in response to both Trump and Barr's pressure. I wouldn't be surprised if she OK's a retrial. If not, Stone will be pardoned anyways.
Not only is the Constitution "out-of-date" and in need of change, but Trump's executive powers are unassailable and unhindered.
3
If Stone got 40 months for obstructing Congress among other things, how much should Trump get?
5
@Warren Ludford For federal crimes he would most likely receive fairly light sentences but New York, I think, would be more severe if he were to face the consequences of crimes committed in that state over many years of corrupt dealing.
I always wondered what it would be like to live in a third-world country, what with rampant corruption, a politicized justice system, and all presided over by a ruthless gangster, masquerading as its president. Well, now I know. America is dead. Long live America!
4
How is it someone lies to congress and gets a limo ride home?
4
"But let justice roll like a mighty river And righteousness like an everlasting stream." Unless, of course, one has friends in high places.
1
Just cleaning up the swamp folks nothing to see here. In 50 years of being a voting citizen I have never been so disgusted with an elected official as I am with DJT. That the Republican party continues to support him is equally disgusting. Their silence, with the exception of Mr. Romney, is a testament to their love of power over everything, even simple decency.
10
I read this article a couple of hours ago and he hasn't been pardoned yet?!
4
@chair It's National Cherry Pie Day. And you remember what G. Washington had to say about that cherry tree.
D. Trump is simply George's devoted follower.
Why the GOP are bed with the Trump... Russian Money. They are all traitors.
--Legal Experts Say Attorney General's Ties to Russia Are Troubling [newsweek]
--Barr’s public financial disclosure report, he admits to working for the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he was counsel from March 2017 until he was confirmed as attorney general in February 2019, represented Russia’s Alfa Bank. (Barr earned more than $1 million at Kirkland) and for a company whose co-founders allegedly have long-standing business ties to Russia. What’s more, he received dividends [$5,001 to $15,000 in dividends] from Vector Group, a holding company with deep financial ties to Russia.
--Questions have also been raised about whether Och-Ziff Capital Management, a hedge fund where Barr was a board director from 2016 to 2018, may also be too closely connected to the Russia investigation.
--The billionaire Ziff brothers, Dirk, Robert and Daniel, provided seed money to hedge fund manager Daniel Och to start the firm in 1992. They retained a small stake in the company after it went public in 2007.
--The brothers are also a subject of interest to the Russian government because of their work with billionaire William Browder, a financier who ran afoul of the Kremlin.
Roger Stone Dismisses Connection to Indicted Russian Hackers [DailyBeast]
Stone is downplaying his contacts with twelve Russian intelligence officers that were indicted on Friday as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
2
He deserved a LOT more, especially since he is still doing that of which he was convicted. He had better serve every second of his sentence or Trump will be re-Impeached for misuse of power and a thousand other things. Two rotten peas in a pod.
4
Judge caved; irrespective of scathing review, Roger Stone walked out of courtroom.
3
I'm shocked that half the country doesn't get stoned because Trump's in charge.
1
It has become legal since he took office.
Last I heard, driving a sandwich bag of marijuana across state lines gets you more time than that. It’s like the old adage, when a crime is big enough, it’s not really a crime anymore. It’s just what rich and powerful people do.
So much for draining the swamp.
7
How long will it take 45 to commute the sentence?
1
Counting the seconds down to his inevitable pardon.
1
Three years seems about right, but if the greens on the prison golf course he's headed for were more readable, I could have gone for four or more.
1
Nietzsche: Often filth sits upon the throne - and often the throne upon filth too. America today. Sad but true.
2
Well Senate, for want of (not a nail this time) a backbone the Republican party was lost and became instead the cult of Trump, which is nothing like the the Republican party of 50 years ago.
The GOP and Republican are old brand names for a cheapened and inferior product which is stripped of patriotism, love of country, courage.
The we the majority of Americans have lost our democracy, and we have fallen into a pit of authoritarian kleptocracy where there is no good faith, fairness, and the rule of law is a matter of the size of your bank account and your politics.
The Senate majority unchained a would be dictator and the Senators who ignored their oaths and loosed this man as a vindictive dictator on the nation with no mechanism to control him except an election which he intends to rig with the aid of foreign powers must be totally destroyed and replaced with decent fair minded patriotic people.
Trump is a crime boss and we are ruled by the Trump Crime Family and he will use the DOJ and the pardon process to help people like himself.
If you are his pal or a lawless crook like himself you get a Get out of Jail Free card to spit in the faces of people who are honest and and upright and don't cheat and lie as he constantly does.
4
"nothing like the the Republican party of 50 years ago."
@Sheldon Bunin Heck, Jackson Heights is nothing like what it was 50 years ago either.
When Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor left, I had to go too. The world had changed overnight.
Stone is grinning from ear to ear because he knows he’ll never see a day of his sentence. Trump and the GOP have completely obliterated the idea of accountability for corrupt behavior, and normalized absolutely reprehensible habits.
Congratulations, conservative America, you’ve successfully destroyed the social contract that has allowed us to function as a nation of laws for two centuries. The decline of the nation is absolutely owned by you, but you’ve demonstrated you’re not big on accountability, so I guess it’s no big deal for you after all.
6
Sentence was pronounced today. How is he not already in jail? Is that a common practice?
The power of the presidency in this country must be curtailed. That goes for any president, any party, any anything. We have now seen just how dangerous it is in the wrong hands.
1
No matter the sentence he has been given, Trump will pardon him, just as Trump hopes to be pardoned once he is no longer able to pardon himself.
2
So in the end the judge caved to Trump's pressure. It's all right because it's all white. Justice is meant to beat down the poor and that is what it does. Laws are not meant for rich people.
3
three years in prison for obstructing a congressional inquiry in a bid to protect the president.
And a completely bogus one at that. After Trump rightfully pardons him he should give him a medal as well.
1
I don't think Trump wants to pardon Stone. Trump is behaving the way he does for all his cronies who get in legal trouble; making public statements of support and using his power to control the narrative and reduce the sentence. But, once convicted, they are kicked to the curb, he turns his back.
The reason being is that these guys, as opposed to the criminals he did pardon, have actual dirt on Trump, and pardoned individuals can be forced to provide truthful information about their nefarious activities.
1
Enjoy your life behind bars Roger, three squares a day, warm cot, and the opportunity to meet new people.
1
Stone is a serial provocateur and a flamboyant one at that. There is no question that he not only pushed the envelope with his behavior but tore through it in many instances. His threats, intimidation, lying to Congress and refusal to follow the judge's orders cannot be overlooked as merely childish pranks committed by a child-like adult. His sentence, while certainly lighter than the one proscribed by the prosecution, appears to be fair under the circumstances; yet it will certainly still be looked as too severe by his allies, even quite possibly by the president himself. I would think, at the very least, a lengthy period of house arrest, ankle monitoring and community service would have been sufficient. This would have humbled the man, which he deserves and certainly needs.
A bit over 3 years for "...threatened a witness with bodily harm, deceived congressional investigators and carried out an extensive, deliberate, illegal scheme that included repeatedly lying under oath and forging documents." No remorse and defiant still. Would he do it again, of course. Was Justice served, of course not.
1
Wow, what a relief. It's a good thing Mr. Stone had a different skin tone and dared to commit a more serious crime like taking some food from a convenience store to feed his family because he was broke.
2
Suppose there was a literal "witch hunt" and you lied to protect a friend accused of being a witch from burning at the stake? Would that be honorable?
It is unclear to me why the deck referrs to a "virtual standoff between the president and the attorney general.” Suggesting that the two are substantially at odds is counter-factual on it’s face. The president statements and attorney general Barr’s actions are thus far perfectly aliegned. While Barr has stated otherwise, he actions do not back support that assertion. For the NYT to value the words of the attorney general over that of his actions plays into the obviscaton that is clearly the goal.
It's mandatory that to work for Trump you must be willing to go to jail---if you're caught.
Too bad Judge Jackson's reasonable sentence on Stone will die with his pardon by Trump. The mere fact that Trump is empowered to pardon anyone is inconceivable. Thankfully, no one will be able to pardon him when he faces tax evasion in New York.
With time off for good behavior he could be out by supper time...not today, but certainly by Sunday at the latest.
Roger Stone threatened the judge personally. I would not have been so lenient.
3
I am glad Stone's sentence is less than four years. That is not an unreasonable period and, therefore, should remove any excuse for Trump to pardon him.
So, if Trump still goes ahead and pardons him, it only means one thing: Stone has something big on Trump and must have threaten Trump to spill the beans, if he ends up going to prison.
2
I strongly urge every federal defendant to make an official request through their attorney to the president to personally monitor their proceedings with regard to charging, jury selection and sentencing and live tweet the results. If he finds any "unfair" treatment in their cases they should immediately petition the president for pardon, clemency, commutation of sentence or ask him to make a public statement that because it was "unfair" they should be granted a new trial.
Whatever happens in November Roger Stone and a host of other tRump minions will be pardoned. If he loses the first pardon will go to himself.
1
Conventional wisdom from many, many previous generations that learned the hard way from their own life experiences so we can benefit without paying a stiff price is that 'Judge a man by the company he keeps'.
Let's see those in Donald Trump's circle:
Roger Stone, Jeffrey Epstein, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort; and those women to whom Trump paid money for sexual favors such as Karen McDougal, Summer Zervos, Jessica Drake and Stormy Daniels among others.
Yet somehow, he is still supported by many Republicans, especially those with a strong religious belief, like Evangelicals.
It is beyond comprehension by any reasonable person who cares about America's future.
1
This should not be a cause for celebration. In the end, he got a much shorter sentence than he should have, due to Trump and Barr's interference.
3
I wonder what kind of living situation Stone will enjoy in prison. I use "enjoy" because I doubt he will suffer any physical privation. Cushioned bars on the windows? Decorated room/cell, maybe even a duplex, and surely with room/cell service? Private catering? Daily cleaning service? It's amusing to contemplate, when people of privilege have to pay for their crime.
I am guessing Trump is waiting until after the election before pardoning his accomplice Roger Stone, in early November. It is interesting that Trump has a such psychological hold on his followers (as maintained by his constant tweeting), that 45% of Americans now blindly approve of his every move and will find the pardoning of Stone as perfectly normal and acceptable.
1
There is a book, The Kingdom of The Self, that describes Mr. Trump. It explains that all individuals, in order to grow up to be healthy, psychologically mature adults, need, as infants, to be the center of their parent's world. They need to know their cry for attention will be heard, their need met. Then, about age 4, they need to be deposed from the throne. They need to learn that they are NOT the center of the universe. The Kingdom Of The Self clearly explains what happens if EITHER of these things do NOT happen during our formative years. Mr. Trump is a vivid example of what happens when a child never learns that he is NOT the center of the universe. Read the book. There is another book, The Chosen, that teaches how Judaism dealt with extremely intelligent children so that their intellect would be tempered with compassion. Read the book.
1
It should be obvious by now that Trump has no intention of leaving office willingly. While as president he might not be indicted, once he leaves office he will undoubtedly face an avalanche of legal actions. He will destroy the country rather then face justice.
1
It sounds like the correct sentence was seven to nine years. He got three years or less than half of what was discussed before. So Trump and Barr got what they wanted. They successfully influenced the sentence to be significantly shorter. Stone will probably serve a few months and he will be out. Meanwhile others who commit smaller crimes are in prison a lot longer. But influence, money and being associated with Trump pays off. By the way, this is another case where this character goes to prison and is associated with Trump!
2
Baseball is apparently more serious than politics.
From 2016:
U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Hughes on Monday sentenced former St. Louis Cardinals director of scouting Christopher Correa to 46 months in prison for unlawfully hacking the Houston Astros’ scouting records. Correa, who earlier this year pleaded guilty to five counts, also must pay $279,038 in restitution.
2
@Scott Liebling But the dugouts are cleaner, and the batboys are safer.
The guy is very talented. Very smart. He and all nonviolent criminals should be working, giving money and the benefits of his education and expertise INTO the system, not costing the system more. Incarceration is merely punishment. Therefore it is pointless and useless. There are so many ways to enable Mr. Stone to pay his debt to society without costing society more! He could actually pay his earnings to the country he wronged and add to the general welfare rather than tax it more.
End prison for nonviolent criminals. There is so much they can do, for everyone. Let service, not incarceration, be their way of making amends.
Trump, Barr, Stone... think Russian asset.
How Putin’s oligarchs funneled millions into GOP campaigns [DallasMoriningNews]
--As Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team probes deeper into potential collusion between Trump officials and representatives of the Russian government, investigators are taking a closer look at political contributions made by U.S. citizens with close ties to Russia.
--Buried in the campaign finance reports available to the public are some troubling connections between a group of wealthy donors with ties to Russia and their political contributions to President Donald Trump and a number of top Republican leaders…In 2015-16 Blavatnik's political contributions soared and made a hard right turn as he pumped $6.35 million into GOP political action committees, with millions of dollars going to top Republican leaders including Sens. Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham.
--In 2017, donations continued, with $41,000 going to Republican candidates, along with $1 million to McConnell's Senate Leadership Fund..
1
So Trump might pardon Roger Stone? If he does it will only further darken the historic record of this president. Stone is a little disappointed. He was hoping to show off his Nixon face tattoo on his back in the showers at the big house. That would have been special.
Apparently, the latest news is that next week Trump will pardon Charles Manson, several catholic priests, Al Capone, Bernie Madoff, Ollie North, and any police officer convicted of a felony (so long as they’re registered Republicans). Pompeo has declared that any politician or lobbyist with a criminal record, or those that may have criminal records in the future, will be pardoned. The Congress is outraged, but Senate Republicans have said the Founding Fathers probably intended for the President to have the freedom to do this. Senator McConnell refused to allow any debate. And so the deterioration of the country continues.
1
I suppose in a culture where the height of what we create seems to be comic books, it is appropriate that a man dressed as a cartoon villain will appear to face some measure of justice...
...only to be pardoned by another, more buffoonish comic book villain.
We don't need Batman or Iron man to save us. We need a return to basic humanity and life that imitates a different kind of art. Hopefully one with some heart in it, and deeper than a kiddie pool.
Time to grow up, America.
1
@DP Which cartoon villain?
When campaigning to be president, Trump said many times that if elected he was going to surround himself with the smartest and best people around. I'm waiting for the Democrats to make an ad showing these very smart and talented people-Stone, Manafort, Cohen, and friends in handcuffs while they play a clip of Trump repeating his lame promise.
Roger J. Stone Jr. looks like a man who is very happy and glad to be in the spotlight. Which he obviously happens to be. Being prosecuted for breaking laws for him is just a way to get attention. Stone sees himself as above the law and a celebrity. Real punishment for Stone would be if he showed up but there was no mass media to report anything.
@Casual Observer " Being prosecuted for breaking laws for him is just a way to get attention."
Actually, I think he had something more in mind.
This was not Judge Jackson's first rodeo and considering the other politically sensitive cases she has presided over, it seems unlikely that Trump's tweets or the Justice Department's reversal in the sentencing recommendations would influence her judgment. Yesterday's NYT article, "Judge in Roger Stone Trial Confronts a High-Pressure Decision," said that she "tends to be relatively lenient in sentencing" with an average prison sentence of 32 months, which is 14 months less than the Washington district’s average. So the fact that she went for the low end seems consistent with her past practices rather than an indication that she was cowed by Trump or Barr.
4
With much gratitude to the now 2600 plus former DOJ attorneys who have stood up to say, "This is NOT OK!" We watch from a distance and wonder when someone will stand for integrity. I am reminded of watching the career professionals provide testimony in the Congressional Impeachment Inquiry, and wishing our elected officials had that much character and commitment to seeking the truth - it was a welcome breath of fresh air, as is this action of the Open Letter. Will our legislators ever show up?
20
Stone's attorneys will appeal, of course. That will take several months. If Trump doesn't pardon him soon, he will certainly do so after the November election regardless of the election outcome.
6
Re: "...Roger J. Stone Jr., the Republican political consultant and friend of President Trump, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for obstructing a congressional inquiry..."
Mr. Stone should 'man, up', as the colloquialism says!
In the meantime...
I doubt Trump will dare to pardon Stone prior, to (losing), the 2020 election, because...along with such a pardon comes the loss of Stone's 5th amendment protections concerning this criminal enterprise!
Thus...it would be hilarious to see Mr. Stone forced to testify...given that he'll be subject to a LOT, MORE than 3+ years if he lies or refuses to testify, when summoned!
And Trump is 101% unable to prevent said testimony...
16
According to reports this was one conversation in court:
ABJ: With respect to the second filing — you signed it. Did you write it?
Crabb: I’m not at liberty to discuss the internal deliberations in DOJ.
ABJ: Were you directed to write it by someone else?
Crabb: I can’t answer.
Reading between the lines, one would think that Crabb, the new prosecutor put in place by Barr after the other 4 quit, was directed by Barr to sign the new filings for a lighter recommendation sentence.
This is what the DOJ is like under William Barr. Federal prosectors have no independence and take orders from Barr.
17
It’s a simple quid pro quo: If Stone keeps his mouth shut & won’t “sing”, then Trump will pardon Stone.
That’s why Stone promised he won’t “sing” in his indictment: “I have made it clear I will not testify against the president!”
9
Happens all the time, See: Susan McDougal 
1
Imagine a lawyer standing in court and submitting that the client should suffer no penalty, no punishment or even modest admonishment for his conviction in a fair trial before an impartial jury, and the reasoning presented is, “many others have done this and not been caught.” Imagine a justice system based on that premise. Your President is a simpleton.
25
A travesty. Which Stone did would be considered treasonous if we were officially at war with Russia. And we all know what the penalty for treason is. He and his cronies including Trump represent an existential threat to American democracy.
14
More Trump's trashy friends given a sentence way too light for the crimes he was convicted of.
Add to Stone's threat to Credico, his threat to the judge depicting her in the crosshairs of rifle. And yet the judge allows this lowlife to leave her courtroom with a lenient sentence. Amazing! America, we have met the enemy and they are us.
12
There is absolutely nothing to worry about Trump doling out pardons and clemencies to his dear friends and brother in arms.
After all, none other than his brilliant 'senior' advisor and son-in-law, Jared, after just having achieved everlasting peace between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, is now the the head of a new committee in the White House deciding who should be protected by the pardon power of his daddy-in-law.
What can possibly go wrong?
8
So what is the truth about the things that Roger Stone concealed, lied and obstructed Congress and the American people from learning?
It would be really nice if the American people knew as much about what Roger Stone and Donald Trump and Julian Assange did as our smiling and smirking Russian Czar Father Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.
9
Trump has absolutely no other choice in the crime ridden world he lives in than to pardon Stone. You can Roger that!
And his base won't care a bit. Why? Because he is the only leader they've got in furthering white racist separatism and right-wing christian values. If authoritarianism is what it takes, then by all means these people are all in. Chilling!
6
So it's ok to threaten a federal judge by posting a picture of her with a bullseye on her. Shame on Judge Berman.
5
Roger Stone is a gangster and deserved to serve 7-9 years for the seven felonies he committed on behalf of Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is a gangster and as POTUS will pardon Roger Stone for the seven felonies he committed on the President's behalf.
Mitch McConnell is a gangster and as Trump's sycophant will defend Donald Trump from any repercussions from his gangsterism.
The Trump crime family now rules the USA.
11
I have little doubt that even the three years is too much for the Chief Toddler. Even now, he could just turn around and claim the judge is a 'nevertrumper' or even worse, a "democrat'. He could simply pardon his henchman Stone right now and nobody would/could stop it, right? 40 months is forever to a toddler.
2
Trump channels Oprah": "you get a pardon! And YOU get a pardon! Everybody gets a pardon!"
4
Fair sentencing is all everyone wants and that’s what Stone got. McCabe lied and charges weren’t brought. Obama and both his AG’s interfered in cases, so quit acting like this is something new. How about we talk about Biden’s brother and his business being raided by the FBI last month.
2
Most disappointed that Judge Jackson kowtowed to Barr's wishes. Most disappointing. Just another horror that we'll soon enough forget when the following day when another Trumpian horror happens. How are we going to survive this President?
2
Sending an old man to jail will achieve nothing, other, than making the ah-so-holier-than-thou crowd - incensed by the media salivate.
A 3-year probation would have been sufficient.
2
Assume Las Vegas is running odds on how soon he'll be pardoned.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson skillfully and judiciously fashioned and imposed a sentence upon Roger Stone that significantly telegraphs the compelling message that the federal judiciary will not be politically influenced and blindly intimidated. Severely chastising and intensely excoriating both the defense counsel and the federal prosecutors for their respective roles in contributing to the chaotic miasma, the judge's sternly eloquence conveyed the irrefutable fact that judicial independence is a sacred hallmark of the Constitution. The thoroughness and completeness of the judge's sentencing hearing, without specifically naming the person who instigated the incompetently motivated tweet storm to push a personal agenda, speaks volumes. The fact that yet another Caucasian male of privilege whom the Vietnam war draft dodger feels sorry for, casting blame on the federal prosecutors, the media, and liberal Democrats, is consistent. Shielding the likes of Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Rob Porter, Papadopoulos, and others, from so called miscarriages of justice and vindictive prosecution is necessary to prove that white skin privilege is exclusively reserved for them, and that racial and ethnic minorities should be vigorously prosecuted because they are bad people. Stone will no doubt wind up at federal country club minimum security facility. The draft dodger will plot the timing of unleashing another tweetstorm while gradually working up to pardon Stone. No shock. Race matters.
7
Friends in high places and the ability to plead your case on Fox and Friends seem to help out just a bit.
2
Three years? In a white collar prison? I assume POTUS will visit with some high-tech version of a file in a home-baked pie. Stone looked cheerful; he appears to believe he's on his way to a five-star hotel. In Trump's America, he probably is. Brrrr.
https://thecriticalmom.blogspot.com
2
Ok good jail time for Stone. I see a smile on his face in this photo though. I imagine a pardon is coming, but maybe trump will wait until after the election- lest people think something corrupt is going on.
2
There was no "standoff" between this "president" and his defense attorney Barr. Stop being trump's press office. The majority of the country are not his supporters, which means we can see a con-job when we're presented with one. Barr's line is, "You're making my job more difficult," and he's made it clear that he sees his tax-paid job as protecting his "president" from the rule of law. The "difficulty" his "president" is creating, is maintaining the sham that this tax-funded defense lawyer is the country's lawyer.
3
I just noticed in this article that Hillary Clinton is not going to prison for 40 months.
Hillary will not be locked up, no matter how vile the chants. Everyone surrounding Trump, however, appears to be behind bars. Curious.
3
On what grounds would Hillary Clinton go to jail? She’s not been charged, let alone prosecuted. You seem dismayed that a few of Trump’s cronies are in jail. Just be comforted in knowing that your Mr. Trump is not there—where he should be.
2
It's like bizzaro world. The guilty are innocent. In Trump's universe the guilty are set free. And the free are convicted. It's sick. They say the coronovirus is deadly. Trump and his sickness are way deadly to the planet. He infects everything and everyone he touches. The only cure for the Trump virus is to vote him out of office.
4
The pardon of Roger Stone is happening in 5,4,3,2,1....
Now let's concentrate on getting charges filed against Trump's enemies. Queue more cheering of "lock them up".
1
It upsets me and makes a mockery of justice and fairness each time a Trump associate or friend goes to jail for committing crimes on behalf of Trump. Yet, the criminal and liar in chief goes free and tweets more lies, insults, and obscenities. We must change our archaic constitution and laws so that absolutely no one is above the law. That way, if a president or elected official commits a crime, including lying in public, he/she could be sued, convicted and sent to jail. No need for impeachment, let the court decide if guilty, not those spineless, immoral politicians.
2
It’s CB obvious from the comments that there are people who like Stone see nothing wrong with lying and obstructing justice. Amazing how many people will fall on the sword for Trump.
1
Just the latest political prosecution by the Democrat deep state. Third-rank Republicans get crucified for relatively trivial process crimes, frequently from entrapment or prosecutorial extortion --- Scooter Libby, Mike Flynn, Papadopoulos, Manafort, Roger Cohen.
Meanwhile, Democrats beyond number commit perjury on the most consequential national issues --- Clapper, Brennan, Comey, McCabe --- and get fat contracts with CNN.
People aren't stupid. This outrageous bias and persecution will be dealt with.
2
It is written by the "Chief Law Enforcement Officer, "Let him who has pardon power among you be the first to cast a Stone free."
1
In New Jersey, the penalty for distributing 1 ounce to 5 pounds of marijuana (which is legal in 33 states)is 3 to 5 years. That makes Stone's 3 years look pretty tame. When he pardons Stone, to avoid hardship on his family, Trump better have a look at how many others he needs to pardon for much lessor infractions.
3
Roger Stone may be another distraction from Trump. But he is looking down the road or in the mirror knowing that he is the next one to face all these prosecutors after Roger Stone.
Sometimes it could be revealing in reading Trump's tweet between the lines. He tweeted, " Clean house in DOJ ". Yes, Trump wants to replace many of the decent professional prosecutors with loyalists or cronies like Barr so that he does not have to face Amy Jackson when he votes out of office in November 2020.
2
There's no way around it: This relaxed sentence is a travesty for the American judicial system and adds one to the many dark days for American democracy, since Trump took office.
2
What's the point? Trump's just going to pardon him by tomorrow anyway.
1
They had to sentence Mr Stone to something at first trial, even when it goes to appeal and Stone eventually gets off. This seems like a "save face" strategy by all involved, including Barr.
His smile tells you everything you need to know about the way this will play out. One can only imagine what Stone has on Trump. His pardon is imminent.
3
Being sentenced to "over 3 years in prison" is not the same as serving "over 3 years in prison".
No doubt Trump will state that Stone's sentence of 40 months was "not fair" and he will pardon the man.
In the meantime, the country will continue to be gaslighted by Trump with his views of what are crimes vs. "real crimes" that are being committed.
3
What has to happen before a grassroots movement demands a major reform of the president's right to pardon?! At the very least, the Constitution needs to be amended so that presidents cannot pardon the kind of people that judges are disqualified from judging. In addition, in most modern democracies, the head of state can only pardon people that the justice department or a separate commission recommends.
The current US president's right to pardon is completely outdated, antidemocratic, and downright monarchical. It's shocking that most Americans are unaware of how outdated, broken, and embarrasing the US political, electoral, judicial, and legislative systems are in the eyes of almost all people in modern democracies.
In addition, the undemocratic and downright barbarian practice of voting for judges and prosecutors is so shocking that most people in modern democracies can't even believe this exists in the US. Americans consider it normal that prosecutors get chosen that try to punish and lock up as many people as possible, resulting in high numbers of innocent poor people and especially from minorities being punished. In civilized countries, prosecutors are required to look as much for proof of innocence as for proof of guilt.
8
The USA is a sad approximation of a modern democracy, and is now suffering the consequences of the founders not getting it right in the first place.
2
John Moore,
The USA is a sad approximation of a modern democracy, but only because it hasn't been updated, not due to the founders not getting it right in the first place. They couldn't have; they more or less invented democracy. They would be shocked to see that the Constitution has not been amended, improved, and updated much more and has instead been turned into a pseudoreligious document. Most Americans don't know that most other countries regularly amend and even completely rewrite their constitution; in fact, most Americans don't even realize why the amendments are called that.
1
Nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Appeal, then the pardon.
The only way to protect America and the Constitution is to VOTE in the 2020 Election.
VOTE trump and the republicans out.
4
“The dismay and the disgust at the attempts by others to defend his actions as just business as usual in our polarized climate should transcend party,”
Next week 53 republican Senators will sit for a group portrait for the cover of the soon to be released book Profiles in Cowardice.
The only question about the inevitable pardon to come is how Trump can engineer the timing for maximum spite.
1
This article twice repeats Trump's utterly false and completely unsubstantiated claim that Stone's trial was unfair and the charges unfounded, without any indication that Trump's claims here are plainly additions to his thousands of Post-documented lies. The Post (and other major media) need to recognize the damage that is done by publishing Trump's false propaganda without correction or comment. Periodic tallies of Trump lies by Post fact-checkers do not begin to repair the damage that the Post does by continuing to spread Trump lies. By now the Post ought to realize that we are already in Banana Republic territory, in an increasingly downward spiral. Get your act together. before we totally lose our democracy.
6
This reportedly impartial judge gave Mr Stone a sentence that was 1/3 of the original 9+ year sentence that liberals imploded about when Trump said 9y was egregious. Does this 3y sentence mean Trump may have been correct? Dems scream to let the judiciary do there job. Looks like it did.
1
Barr correct. Disgraced prosecutors and media incorrect. Couldn’t be more obvious. The Judge went out of her way to say how ridiculous a 7-9 year sentence would be in this case.
1
The only thing the nation can be proud of here is Judge Jackson. Despite all the tawdry sideshows she in the end did her job. My thanks to the Judge. Hang in there, this will all be over in November.
2
What Roger Stone is: White, Wealthy, Connected, Right-wing.
What he isn't: Dark skinned, Poor, Unknown, Non-Political.
Given what appears to be a lenient sentence, it will be interesting to see how Trump reacts, and then how Barr reacts.
The Corrupto-Meter is fired up.
4
Two points: 1. As someone who has worked in the justice system, I find this sentence a bit light, given the witness tampering and Stone's behavior in court. 2. Who is taking bets on long it will be before Trump commutes this sentence or pardons Stone? This is assuming that his request for a new trial is turned down, as he will not go to prison on this sentence unless the judge turns down this request.
9
Judge Berman caved. Stone should have gotten the maximum sentence recommended initially - 9 years. That is easily what Stone deserved given his utterly inexcusable conduct. and giving him any less is why all the prosecutors in the case resigned. I expected better from Judge Berman.
13
The president said that a 7-9 sentence for Stone was “horrible and very unfair” and constituted a “miscarriage of justice.”
The attorney general said a 7-9 sentence for Stone was "too harsh".
Judge Jackson sentenced Stone to 3+ years today.
And yet the public is supposed to believe Judge Jackson was not influenced by her boss or by his boss.
Please.
The charade of justice continues to roll like a stone, gathering no moss or real prison time.
13
The monarch's friends are not imprisoned. That's not how it works.
10
Forty months isn't nearly long enough! I wonder what the penalty would have been even 10 years ago?
I was hopeful when the judges had a meeting, because of the condemnation of so many former justice employees and prosecutors!
Apparently, any defense of the rule of law, The Constitution and demands for morality and accountability in government is going to have to come from the people! Terribly sad!
4
How many people are serving long sentences for crimes that did not include undermining our democracy? As the First Criminal has said... The game is rigged. We are kites dancing in a hurricane and Mr. Trump and his minions are the authors of all our pain.
9
Sentenced to 3 years means he can be out in half that time. The judge bowed to power.
6
Virtually every business associated with Trump goes bankrupt. So many people associated with Trump go to jail. Bankruptcy, jail time and lawsuits - that is the legacy of Trump.
11
Send in the clowns... no wait, they're here.
Before farce turns to tragedy I hope the Dems get their act together.
4
Roger Stone aka Ollie North aka fall guy for Republican malfeasance. "Off to Club Fed with ye!"
Steal our democratic election?
No consequences!
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison wept.
2
What a waste of taxpayer money. The charade is out in the open.
Taxpayer funds should be spent on golfing trips for our leaders, and on tax breaks for those who bribe them. Certainly not on prosecuting crimes commited by them or their thugs.
4
Thinking of the current state of the US, two words came to mind.
‘Crimocracy’ and ‘hypocritocracy’. If it isn’t fully these states, it’s well on the way to becoming them. Why do most people just sit there, as if watching the latest dark series on Netflix, waiting for a satisfying ending, where all the baddies get their just deserts? Democracy is an ideal, as fragile and precious as a new born baby, being restored all the time by loving care. Death comes from stasis, passivity. It’s not fun that every value in your wonderful nation is being turned on it’s head in a process of increasing perversion. Somebody do something, pretty smart quick or it will be all gone, in some sort of orgastic process of envious denigration...where it is irreparable, and poisonous mockery reigns supreme.
5
@Hugh Garner - Not to worry my Aussie friend, your democratic nation will be there with us sooner than you can imagine. Your national leadership is already well in to denying climate change, aka ‘climate warming’ (which is a description we are no longer allowed to say). How much did your prime minster get for that service to your coal industry? I think your leaders should be more concerned about losing another part of your automobile industry- goodbye GM, it was nice to know you. Oh well, when things get too tough you can always become Chinese territory. Until then keep the coal flowing and great wines shipping and don’t stop making Bundaburg Rum, which sadly we don’t get here, and boy do we really need it! Now off I go to do something corrupt.
1
Congratulations to the United States Senate for allowing thugs to dismantle our Union. Let all those who voted NOT to convict -- and who were also cowardly enough to hide their faces from the citizens of this country during the "trial" (oh, please!) -- be forever remembered in US History for their betrayal of democracy. Shame!
10
Sadly, the actual length of the sentence ~ 3 years, instead of the originally recommended 7 to 9 years, undercuts those prosecutors who resigned in protest on Barr's intervention and leaves me feeling the outcome here was a victory not for justice and democracy but rather for Barr and Trump.
17
The reason Roger stone is grinning from ear to ear is because someone just whispered to him the date that Donald Trump will pardon him. It will make a terrific finale for this season of Celebrity Apprentice: White House edition.
14
Stone is merely yet another Trump follower who got tossed under the bus. Like Flynn, like Cohen and the other cabinet members who tried to uphold the US Constitution. I can only hope that Trump is tossed out by the US public on Nov 3.
5
Just shows what crooked friends in high places can do for a fellow crook. Stone's felonies merited 50 years in prison, but the DOJ prosecutors recommended 7 to 9 years.
Trump tweets, DOJ prosecutors quit the case rather than compromise their integrity, Barr bends over, and since it's just Trump's personal servant, Barr, and Trump himself, deciding Stone's fate -- voila! 3 years!
And, as part of Trump's recent "Pardon-Palooza", Stone will probably be pardoned.
2
I guess if Trump decides to pardons Roger Stone, that would be the kind of example Alan Dershowtiz was alluding to when he stated,“If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected, in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.”
The abuse of power just gets stronger and more brazen with each passing day in the life of this president.
18
Does Stone's conviction of obstructing Congress to protect Donald J. Trump, CEO, The Trump Organization substantiate Trump's guilt on a long list of crimes?
1
So, in the end tweeting worked!
5
Time for President Trump to pardon everyone prosecuted as a result of the Russian collusion hoax perpetrated by the Democrats. The Mueller investigation is one of the worst travesties in American politics next to the bogus impeachment of the President.
1
@John Gilday Almost nobody will get to read this, since your comment won't garner many likes. Soo..... just on the off chance that YOU, Mr. Gilday, read this, i would just like to point out a few salient facts: 1) Russia DID interfere with the 2016 election, in rather substantial ways - most importantly and effectively, many many thousands of Facebook and other social media accounts which spouted REAL fake news such as the farcical yet still believed by some, "pizzagate" conspiracy notion that children were being sexually abused in the basement of a business establishment that didn't even have a basement. This is an indisputable fact, confirmed even by Mr. Zuckerberg himself. 2) A fair number of Mr. Trump's campaign officials and advisers DID meet with Russian contacts, often quite mysteriously, during the campaign. The subject matter of most of these meetings is still unknown. 3) Mr. Trump MUST have known about the first two things on this list (ok, at least the second), yet he said NOTHING to dispel the notion that the Russians were trying their very best to influence the election. In fact, he joked around saying (well maybe he wasn't joking....) stuff like "Russia, if you're listening.....". In short there was QUITE enough smoke surrounding the issue, for anyone paying attention to suspect there was fire involved in the form of possible collusion: there may not have been, but the optics were NOT good, and no attempts were made to prevent the "appearance of evil".
5
If you can’t see the obvious unAmerican behaviour of trump and his criminal cronies because of your partisanship (or admiration for trumpist racism, misogyny, immigrant-blaming, justice interference, repression of journalists, firing of honest public servants, senseless trade wars etc.) then it is no wonder that most of the intelligent world is sorry for what your once-proud country - and her democracy has become.
8
I didn’t know know Nevada was located in Russia!
5
Stone deserves a pardon even for this short term sentence. He stood tall against the witch hunt of the president by the socialistic leftists. All of trump pardons invigorate his base and ensure re-election in 2020.
2
Stone committed multiple times that undermine our democracy. And I don’t know what where you get the idea that the Democratic Party is socialist. We believe that the government should do those things that the government is best suited for, Medicare, National defense and Social Security being prime examples. I guess you’ll be turning down Medicare Social Security when you’re eligible.
1
Forty months in trump tower—although likely to be pardoned in three or fewer—during which time the government will reimburse trump corp something like $100,000/day to cover expense of holding stone “prisoner.” Then—FLASH—trump discovers a new use and income source for his hotels.
1
It seems like the judge showed enormous restraint and respect for the law. The only thing that she may have overlooked is that the self-described trickster holds the Trump card. And as we all know, President Trump has declared himself the “chief law-enforcement officer of the United States”. That is the pathetic state of our justice system and you can be certain that President Trump will have the last say and Roger Stone the last laugh.
1
Let us not forget that Trump was campaigning for the death penalty for the Central Park 5.
12
New law: All pardons by the President must be approved by both the majority and minority leaders in both the House and the Senate.
6
Stone will never see the inside of a jail.
1
In the end, this is what is going to be remembered of all this: prosecutors did their job, the result of their job did not please Trump, his AG interfered, his friend got a much lighter sentence, Trump goes “There you go, I win again”. End of story.
5
@Adriana
It is most likely that this is the sentence that Judge Jackson would have imposed regardless. Her calculation of the guildline had a maximum of 7 years and she stated that the original recommendation was unduly harsh. I doubt that she was swayed by Trump's tweets and she was free to ignore the recommendations.
2
If this is what was most likely to happen, why to interfere with such force as to have US AG to amend the recommendation?
As I read this article I’m watching a live broadcast of Trump defending Stone and attacking one of the Jurors and and the whole process.
As usual, Trump is completely “off the rails” to his base he is speaking to. Do I hear a pardon in the works ..... stay tuned to breaking news.
13
@Grandpa
Considering the comments the juror made, during the trial no less, about Stone and Trump, and not being forthright, you could say lying, on the questionnaire, it will not be surprising if a new trial is granted.
1
'' virtual standoff between the president and the attorney general.''
Another episode of the apprentice where if the contestant (Barr), doesn't please the Donald, he is off the show.
It's a real as professional wrestling.
6
Lying to Congress (not to mention as a member of Congress) obviously has little weight in the Trump era, but witness tampering is no joke. And he's not the first Trump associate to be accused of such (including Trump himself). Too bad he won't serve a fraction of his sentence; he earned it.
6
6 years too FEW!!~!!!!
5
Springtime for Criminals!
7
What's next? Every single day The Commander in Twitter degrades our democracy a little more. Who and how to stop it? Impeachment? Ha! Voting? Well, we have come so low that this vindictive, revengeful, malicious, spiteful, liar, lawless individual can still run for president of the USA again? Tragic.
7
He's always dressed like some sort of 60s Batman villain.
10
NYT, When you report "The president has criticized the jury’s verdict, claiming that “the real crimes were on the other side,”" can you make it clear that the president has never stated what those "real crimes" might be, much less provided any evidence? As written, your statement gives credence to a completely unfounded claim by a most untrustworthy news source - our president.
16
Will we ever see Roger Stone in a bespoke orange jump suit?
7
In a word, shameful. Forty months for 7 felony conviction? Seven! That's less than 6 months per felony.
8
This person is tainted. This terrible person had a horrible social media account, the things said unbelievable. A strong person, very dominant personality who could get people to do what this person wanted.
Trump projecting his self description onto Jury Foreperson
1
As judge and judicial philosopher Learned Hand once said,
"If we are to keep democracy, there must be a commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice" And , when it came to Roger Stone's sentence, Judge Jackson didn't. After all the meddling by Trump and Barr in the end it was only Judge Jackson's analysis that mattered. Judge Jackson was guided by her oath, her training and her experience. Though mindful of the meddling, she filtered it out.
In the scheme of things Roger Stone is just a symptom of the larger problem of Trump. He is, however, a pitiful reminder. (like Flynn and Manafort) of how abased the office of the President has become. Jackson's delay of imposition of the prison sentence was, in my opinion, strategic. She can now take her time to evaluate if Stone should get another trial. She can weigh all the procedural issues alleged by the defense and determine if they are valid. An while she is doing that the media frenzy simultaneously spawned and enjoyed by Trump himself will die down. Great call. Let him twist slowly in the wind.
358
@Harley Leiber I think her independence would have been served better if she'd given him the original recommended sentence of 7-9 years. While she may have carefully deliberated and come to the conclusion that it warranted 40 months, it still looks like she acquiesced to trump/Barr. Handing out the original sentence recommendation would have left no doubt that all the interference didn't help him. Considering he was convicted because of his interference in an investigation it would have been fitting to show interference in his case would not help either, in terms that could not be misinterpreted.
46
@Harley Leiber
Another Trump crony to illustrate the Juvenalian adage, “Dare something worthy of prison if you want to be somebody.”
Not that Stone will ever see prison.
12
@Harley Leiber
We shall see.
Remember Leona Helmsley..."Only the little people pay taxes.
Well, only the 'big people" go to jail - and when they do, the place where they go is like a country club.
Usually.
4
Mr. Stone is among a half-dozen former Trump aides to be convicted in cases stemming from the investigation by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into Russia’s election interference. Most already served their sentences or are in prison.
------------
If Mr Trump had been president in any of the other democracies around the world, he would have been long gone. (including in the United States, save and except for Republican control of the Senate). In non-democracies he would have been overthrown in a coup.
Question: In 1974 I took a College course at Fordham University (American Issues by Prof Howard Krukofsky). As part of the course we daily analysed the Rodino Impeachment hearings and studied the U.S. Constitution. When Nixon resigned in 1974, the papers across the U.S. celebrated: 'The Constitution was tested - and endured'. I believed in the beauty, greatness and power of this marvelous document.
So what happened today? It is less about what is written in the Constitution; more about how one rogue leader (think Hitler, think Trump) can shred the constitution with a little help from the likes of McConnell, Barr, Republican Senators.
And, btw, the U.S. constitution needs amendments to stop would-be rogue presidents in the future.
7
Leniency for an utterly unrepentant multiple felon who threatened a witness. Citizens United has succeeded in its purpose. We've got a mobster-run government. Thank you, Chief Justice Roberts!
14
The always smirking Stone never fails to offend. A history of dirty tricks, witness tampering, and subversion of our election process makes no difference.
Just say no in November.
7
Trump called Stone "a little different". Trump said this. Just let that marinate.
3
Another Trump travesty. And the swamp grows larger.
3
@David M. Pasquariello The other travesty is soon to follow as trump makes good on his threat to clean out the dept of justice.
What that statement means is, anyone in any law enforcement investigation, including the Roger Stone one, who was involved in anything related to trump's Russia involvement, must be silenced.
No can be left who can connect any of all the loose threads. That includes anyone investigating a DJT themed investigation.
Well...Is he locked up right now?!
Or.
Out on the streets where he can do more harm?!
3
Waiting to see how long it takes fro a presidential pardon.
2
Reporter: “Roger Stone, are you going to pardon him?"
Trump: “Pardon him? Well, I haven’t thought of it!”
Of course Trump will pardon him. Specially after what Stone said at his indictment: “I have made it clear I will not testify against the president!”
5
The House should call him in, give him immunity and make him talk!
2
The economy is going to take a hit as Stone and Manafort trade their fancy threads for orange jumpsuits.
1
Tweeting a picture of the judge with crosshairs next to her head, which is what Stone did, should quadruple the actual sentence.
9
Vile criminals being aided and abetted by a gangster-president, that’s what we’ve come to in “the land of the free and home of the brave”, folks.
5
3 years? Really? What a joke. So much for Judge Jackson not being "ruffled".
3 years off in 1.5 years with good behavior. Under the circumstances, this seems like a fair sentence.
Stone should have kept his mouth shut and stayed off the internet.
The judge did a commendable job.
A lot of misbehavior on both sides.
Highly political trial.
*Stone is one well-dressed defendant. Allan Flusser should be commended for his talents.
2
Just over 3 years for 7 felonies....including lying to Congress?
The biggest failure here belongs to the rich and powerful .
They could have put on a better show.
3
I suppose he will spend a few nights behind bars before the pardon.........?
1
Washington Post: Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months.
Mother Jones: Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison.
NBC, CNN, MSNBC...40 months...
NYT: Sentenced to "Over 3 years..." Word-plays to make readers believe the sentence is "so much more" is a trick we see through.
4
How did Rogers Stone lies about his unsuccessful but lawful efforts to established back-channel communications "protect President Trump,” as Sharon LaFraniere asserts. Trump could have called up Julian Assange personally and ask him about his plans to publish more hacked DNC email without violating any law. Reporters deluged WikiLeaks with the same question. The Muller Report concluded freedom of the press protected WikiLeks just is it protects the New York Times when it published purloined documents.
19
@William Case
Regardless, it's illegal to lie Congress to and obstruct a Congressional investigation, as well as to tamper with related witnesses. I suppose you might ask this instead: why did Stone lie?
75
@William Case, I'm glad to know that you are okay with people lying under oath to prosecutors. Did you feel the same way when Bill Clinton lied about Monica Lewinsky? I mean, what they did was legal and certainly didn't hurt the country. Yet the Republicans thought it so serious they impeached Clinton for this.
And remember that Stone was also guilty of witness tampering, intimidating a witness, intimidating a judge - please don't tell me you are okay with these as well.
104
@William Case It protected Trump *politically*. How is that not thoroughly obvious?
57
Prosecutors at the DOJ should simply refuse to follow any order that they feel is politically motivated. This would force Bill Barr to fire them individually, one by one, which I think would be much more damaging politically thing than simply having them resign. Also, by being fired instead of quitting, it will open the department up to massive lawsuits.
5
A number of the comments suggest that Roger Stone got a lighter sentence because he is white. Such suggestions are baseless and an insult to an excellent federal judge, who imposed a stiff sentence (yes, over three years in prison is a long time) but who also rightly recognized that the federal sentencing guidelines are unduly harsh.
2
@Ester - three years is not a long or a fair sentence for a conviction of 7 felonies! She also gives the appearance of caving to the ‘chosen one!’
1
if i were a wagering man, I'd bet that DJT stays out of fray until after the election to be able to (falsely) claim non-interference with the rule of law. If he wins, Stone is pardoned immediately after - if he loses, Stone is pardoned immediately after. If anyone thinks otherwise then THEY are the ones who haven't learned any lessons from the impeachment fiasco.
5
First of all, Stone is smiling, which means that Trump has already told him that whatever the verdict is, he will pardon him.
Forget justice.
Second, I am no fan of prison sentences for non-violent offenders. 9 years would basically have meant life in prison for Stone, so I kind of have to agree with Trump that that is somewhat harsh.
However, I would have no problem with convicting him to 5 years of community service, cleaning up the environment, e.g. picking trash along the major highways between New York and San Francisco 5 days a week.
THAT would have been real punishment for Stone. And the people would actually benefit from it.
13
@Captain Nemo - who says he won’t live to 76?
Now the poor clown will have to make his own bed, how ever will he survive? Of course his cult leader will pardon him, before his appeals run there course.
Let us say that, in a purely hypothetical circumstance, a former president is charged and convicted of criminal conduct while in office. And let us suppose that certain persons pardoned by the president while in office were found, in the course of that subsequent trial, to have been complicit in the commission of those crimes and that their pardon was part of a conspiracy to cover them up and to otherwise pervert the course of justice.
Might it not then flow from such a hypothetical case that the pardons themselves were granted for an unlawful purpose and that hence, notwithstanding the presidential powers of pardon prescribed in the Constitution, they might be reversed on application to the Supreme Court?
To think otherwise - to dismiss any challenge to the legitimacy of a pardon issued by a president irrespective its illegal intent as beyond judicial review or remedy - begs constitutional credulity.
2
Judge Berman Jackson was put in an impossible position, but has outsmarted Trump here.
We all know full well that whatever the outcome, Trump will pardon Stone, so it really doesn't matter whether his sentence was 1 month or 9 years.
She could have deferred sentencing, pending the motion for a new trial.
However it ultimately ends up, the optics are this;
'Roger Stone was convicted, and sentenced to 40 months'.
His Wikipedia page already says it.
3
How many nationwide sentencing recommendations were made by federal prosecutors last week? And how many of these recommendations did AG Barr intervene in? That’s all reasonable observers need to know to understand what’s going on here.
3
40 months is a reasonable sentence for what he done IMO. It is only the crazy sentences that others get, for often lesser crimes, that makes this look like a light sentence.
Back when Ross Perot was running for president he observed that in the case of then-convicted Michael Millkin, who had bilked people of about $1 billion, and had to repay $600 million, that if a Puerto Rican boy had stolen four tires no court would say it would be all right if he returned three tires. Perot, now deceased, and Millkin, now pardoned, are in the past, but we can see that the wheels of justice are wobbly indeed with Trump's pardons flying through the mail faster than his divorces, documented crimes, and abuses of the office of the president. Justice was raped while she was blindfolded.
3
looks as though Trump's pressure on the judiciary worked. the justice department originally recommenced 70+ months. Stone got 40. Already half.
Once again, as demonstrated, get anywhere near Trump and be prepared for prison or huge legal bills, or both. Meanwhile, the guy walks away smelling like a rose at a dog park. All his life Trump has left a wake of disasters from personal relationships to failed businesses to stiffed contractors.
1
Judge was wise to sentence this grifter to 3+ years. Now, if Trump complains and pardons him, we will know that his protests were never about unfair sentencing but about taking care of his rogue friends.
4
Once again, its a woman standing up to Trump. I don't want to be sexist here, but the men seem to lack bxxxx, whereas the women in government have them. Its past time for women in the USA to get their full rights and opportunities.
Signed: a 70 year old man.
7
@Jean louis LONNE this 48 year old man agrees with you.
1
Next up - FBI folks who abused FISA.
2
Roger Stone's new friendly greeting to Trump: "Howdy pardoner!"
320
@Jay Orchard
Priceless Pardoner!
16
@Jay Orchard,
I'm amazed he hasn't been pardoned already. Someone in the Oval Office is probably trying to talk Trump out of it as I write this.
22
@Jay Orchard
i do love a good pun. thank you
8
The photo at the head of the article looks like someone with a nice pardon already tucked under his hat.
He will be pardoned before he gets his orange suit.
4
Three years, thirty years ... what's the difference? We currently don't have a fully functional, independent federal judicial system, and he'll be pardoned anyway.
4
If Trump pardons Stone there should be a general strike to begin shaving down the economy and the markets. As his precious economy goes south even the Republicans won't have any use for him.
7
@Bill
Actually, a general strike is a good idea. Consumers should stop buying. Hitting Trump and his big money backers is the only thing that will get their attention.
1
Stone could be in something of a "win-win" situation; a sentence of roughly less than half of what was recommended; and which his good friend Trump will likely pardon or commute.
Tantamount to Trump "flipping" the rule of law, yet again.
Trumpsters will once again and no doubt, be so excited over this, they can't stand themselves; which will give the rest of us one more reason why we can't stand them.
Pray for karma.
1
It’s unlikely he would have gotten 9 years based on precedent. 1-4 was most likely range.
1
Which will become 0. The magic of pardon math.
Barr and Trump masterfully played the judge. Like tag-team wrestlers. Appearing to be at cross-purposes while both of them were applying pressure for this result. A reduced sentence. Mission accomplished.
3
I bet the Judge would have given him exactly this.
Trump accomplished nothing because she stood up to him.
Maybe Barr can get some lessons in how the Judiciary is a separate entity - it’s obvious Barr doesn’t know.
She can also teach him some courage.
I agree with others that Trump will pardon Stone -- the day after the next election, win or lose, when it will not affect his re-election -- on the grounds that even a day behind bars is unjust. The justification for President Trump is that it is a waste of his presidential pardon power if he doesn't use it. If you can, you should.
3
This makes me wonder... What will it take for the American electorate to not be so gullible so as to be susceptible to propaganda paid for by billionaires behind the curtain? Is that state of affairs even possible? If not, is oligarchy inevitable? I still hope not. I still hope we can build a country where you can do your best and not be ground into the dirt in every aspect of your life. Do you know the NHS was created in England after WWII, when there was nothing but a will of the people to do the right thing?
6
I'm not a judge so I speak personally.
The Crimes committed by Stone are serious enough a lengthy stay in prison.
Trump apologists are always ready to toggle from the aggressive "effu" position to the "poor mistreated me" position. In an instant.
So it's no surprise that after a conviction they would immediately run to the victim side of the equation.
Thus it makes sense that they would downplay the crimes of lying and threatening witnesses. No one was harmed, nobody was really in danger, the FBI and DoJ prosecutors are too harsh protecting their domain, there are no real victims, etc. Standard whines of the sort offered by the perpetually misunderstood philanderer.
However, the intent and expanse of the criminal, probably treasonous, plot in which Stone knowingly participated isn't in doubt. As the judge says (too leniently) Stone participated in a cover up.
Yet Stone also played a large and active role in subverting the 2016 election. Sure, he wasn't passing polling data to Kilimnik like Manafort, but one can assume Stone knew/knows all the details of the overall crime of subverting the 2016 election.
He likely helped form the plan and actually participated in its practical implementation.
His sentence was far too light for the harm he caused.
It is an insult to the very idea of a constitutional republic that he should be allowed to slither off into the weeds where he awaits his next opportunity to subvert the body politic.
5
You’re probably correct. Stone should have received a longer sentence - but then Trump shouldn’t be President.
3
Much Ado about nothing and more wasted expectations about the judge. All these people just want their time in the limelight. When will the media stop placing hope on supposed fair and reasonable people?
A man refuses to help our government determine the extent of spying by a major foreign foe, and he only gets 40 months. America is under siege from within.
Trump has been laying the false premise of Stone's innocence to justify his corrupt pardon later. This is typical stuff in the outer boroughs of New York.
2
The sentencing guidelines said 7-9 years, which the prosecutors recommended. AG Barr caused an uproar when he overruled his own prosecutors, at Trump's request. Judge Jackson can talk tough all she wants, but in the end she followed Trump and Barr's orders and gave Roger Stone half the minimum that anyone else would have received. What a shameful capitulation to these wannabe despots. This was the furthest thing from a victory for law and order that there is.
1
I only hope the prosecutors held back some charges so Stone can be pursued in the courts if Trump pardons him. Stone attacked the country from within. We need a new set of laws specific to Stone's type of crimes.
2
I hope, should Stone actually do his time (which is reasonably doubtful) that the country he re-emerges into in a little over three years has a Democratic President and is back on track to sanity, reason, science acceptance, lawful behavior by political leadership.
That will not be a particularly welcoming or fertile environment for Stone or for his nefarious antics.
3
It seems likely from the photographs of Roger Stone published with the various accounts of his evolving legal embroilment that the man is deriving a huge enjoyment from being the center of media and public attention. There is not a sign, not even a smidgeon of chagrin, for the fact that he has been convicted of all charges brought against him by the Dept. of Justice. Stone is dressed to the nines, implying that he will never face the ignominy of prison garb and that the charges and punishment of his sentence for which he was convicted are irrelevant. This attitude of the now-convicted and self-proclaimed dirty trickster must be brought up short; only when his suave black coat and silk shirt is exchanged for the crumpled orange prison garb will his smirk which implies he considers himself a star and will escape any punishment decreed by the courts will justice be on track again to be served.
3
I wonder what Stone's sentence would have been without Trump's interference.
It's sure a doggone lucky thing that Judge Amy was so dismayed and disgusted at the attempts by others to defend Stone's actions as business as usual, and also so dismayed and disgusted by their attempts to interfere with the efforts of prosecutors and members of the judiciary.
Without all that disgust and dismay, she might have just apologized, patted him on the head, and told him to have a big dish of ice cream when he got home because "I just know you're going to be a good boy!"
1
I don't get it. People writing here seem to think it's OK to give him half of what the guidelines call for because that may have an influence on whether Trump pardons him. Maybe somehow he'll serve more time if Trump cannot say that the sentence was excessive. Well, the guidelines are NOT excessive -- they are the guidelines. The judge gave him HALF of what the guidelines call for. and he'll probably be out of jail in a couple of years even if Trump doesn't pardon him, and for sure it will not be "hard time". Heck, I'd get more than that if I stole used car. And I would probably be abused seriously while I was in jail. So much for equal justice.
4
Imagine all the corruption from the Trump camp that we don't know about yet. It boggles the mind.
5
@GOPSenate Obstruction of Congress is a real crime that results in a hefty prison sentence?! Article II injustice.
Look at Stone in the photo. He's having the time of his life. Happy, smiling. Considering what Trump has done this week - there's no need to wonder why.
2
"Judge Amy Berman Jackson excoriated Mr. Stone, saying his efforts to thwart a legitimate congressional inquiry of national importance were 'a threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the very foundation of our democracy.'”
Ooh, he's been EXCORIATED ... that'll show him!
I understand why Republican lawmakers are bowing to the beast, but I can't figure out why independent actors like Mueller and Jackson continually fail to stand up for justice and do the right thing for the country.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good
men do nothing." -- Burke (attrib.)
2
He deserved all 7-9. Threatening a witness and the judge (!) is no small matter. That said, he won't serve a minute of the 3-yr. sentence. Our criminal administration will see to that.
It's nauseating that these men--Stone, Trump, Flynn-- have played their stunts for decades. Their entire lives are predicated on gaming the system and they're open about that.
They're so arrogant in the assumption that they will get away with it that they--ironically and inevitably--keep getting away with it. Why? Because we have a blatantly rigged system, one that offers staggering privileges in this order:Being monied, white, and male. When you're all three, the message is clear: The criminal sky's the limit.
When DJT bragged about killing someone on 5th Ave and getting away with it, he spoke with the utter conviction borne of centuries of inherited entitlement. There's a reason the last vestiges of the old patriarchy are the most resistant to change.
Young increasingly diverse voters are not going to stand for a fixed game where those who do the most damage never pay the price because the system has been rigged by their fellow cronies to ensure they don't.
Maybe one day we'll actually treat so-called White Collar crime as what it really is...the filthiest, dirtiest, most hypocritical, corrupt and consequential crime there is.
But that assumes we have time left, and if DJT isn't stopped, we may not.
---
Watch the recent Stone documentary for a taste of why he deserves the 9.
3
Even a pernicious and criminal genius like King Donald will be hard pressed to criticize the relative leniency of this sentence for crimes committted on his behalf. Next move evil genius?
The executive branch and those who serve him are literally judge and jury. How close to a tin-pot dictatorship has the US become?
Stone just needs to stay out of jail until the day after the election, when he, Flynn snd Manafort will get their pardons. Unless Individual 1 decides that he is a shoo-in against whoever the Democrats nominate. Then the pardons will come sooner.
For the life of me I can't figure out our justice system. Get caught stealing something and you go to jail for many years (possibly life, if you're a young man of color). Lie, threaten a witness, threaten a judge and break our democracy and you get the Mob Boss sayin' "no fair" on a 9 yr sentence.
Plus, the use of words and phrases like "flushing the pipes", "purge", etc....starting to feel like 1930's Germany.
Someone, somehwere please tell me how the Republicans can think this is anywhere near OK.
3
Does it really matter how many years Stone is given when Trump can just pardon him as soon as the dust has settled?
My guess is that he will be pardoned in January whether Trump wins or loses in Novmeber
Trump is too cowardly to pardon Stone. That’s why Manafort is still in jail.
The whole lot are criminals not intimidated by the law. The big guy will cover them if they are caught.
How pathetic we have stooped so low. Is this how our government works now?
2
@Yappy Appy
Update: The guy in the White House predicts Roger Stone will be "exonerated soon".
Stay tuned, more to come!
I hope he spends the rest of his life behind bars. He is a very dangerous man.
1
The president should pardon every GOP member currently prisoned. The atrocity of what the left did to this presidents 2016 campaign should not go unsettled. Keep draining the swamp!
@RS He's draining the swamp alright.
Well, what's he gonna be like?
That was the big question one day after Election Day in 2016.
I suppose (we murmured, crossing our fingers)--I suppose he'll calm down a bit. ALL presidential candidates--once assured of a ready entrance into the Executive Mansion--well, they simmer down some. They reach out to the great middle ground of Americans. They ditch the extravagant promises, the dire threats that fueled their candidacies.
He'll settle down some, we murmured (fingers still tightly crossed). Wiser heads will prevail. Counsels--advice--admonitions proffered by the "wise men", the experienced guys, the guys intimately familiar with the ins and outs of twentieth century America.
HA!
He has learned nothing. If anything, he is worse--immeasurably--worse than he was in the spring and summer of 2016. He has never reached out to anyone. He listens to virtually no one. The hate talk--and above all the unending mendacity--
--these have flooded American political discourse for the last three and a half years. Like a sewer or a toilet backed up--
--it goes on and on. Corrupting the minds. Corrupting the hearts. Darkening the landscape of what it ever meant to be an American.
He must be stopped.
How I don't know.
But it's gotta happen.
Somehow.
4
Saying Comey and McCabe weren’t prosecuted or tried for criminal offenses is misleading. They were both referred for prosecution. The mere fact that The Justice Department chose not to prosecute does not exonerate their wrongdoings. Prosecutors knew the jurisdiction the trial would take place. There are still investigations going on. They are not off the hook yet. Only Barr and Durham know what additional information is being gathered on the people involved in that investigation. Comey and McCabe could be cooperating. Prosecuting them now would allow discovery that could tip others to where the Durham investigation is leading. Asking for leniency for Stone could be substantiated when the investigation is concluded. Nobody should assume that IG Horowitz’s report has concluded criminal activities have been dealt with completely. Durham’s report will connect the dots, and either end with a fizzle, or a set off a series of criminal referrals that will shock the people involved in crossfire Hurricane. That will be the time the Justice Department will have to show if bias determines who gets prosecuted fairly. Ask the 2000 former Justice employees then what the think.
@Jay If the JD doesn’t even try to get an indictment, there are no crimes, excepting those imagined by Trump and spewed by his followers snd his media. Stone was convicted by a jury. He is a criminal. The only problem I have with the sentence is that mob boss Trump interfered in the process.
1
@Doug Lowenthal That’s just not the case. If the Justice Department is told to back off because it could jeopardize the Durham case, they would back off. Durham was told to back off until after the Mueller investigation for that very same reason. Any discovery a defendant is legally required after an indictment could jeopardize Durham’s investigation. The Justice Department only has to worry about statutes of limitations when deciding to prosecute, and they haven’t ran out.
Everyone must be forgetting that Roger Stones live in girlfriend is one of Manhattan's most notorious Madams. Kristin Davis. She ran a high end call girl racket for the rich and famous in NY. This went on for YEARS......
She's got the dirt on Trump.
Expect a complete and full pardon.......
20
Is this the judge whose picture was tweeted with superimposed crosshairs?
2
When does the convicted felon, Roger Stone, begin serving his sentence?a
Stone's a narcissistic superannuated teenage prankster run amok, which makes him a rockstar to the Radical Right, the GOP and the Oval Office
9
Fortunate he was white and privileged. Could have gotten life otherwise.
Travesty. Disgusting travesty.
18
So the judge caved to Trump and Barr. Standard sentencing guidelines be damned. White collar crimes and corruption that erode the very foundations of our democracy and justice system get the proverbial slap on the hand while the common thief and pot smoker get the maximum and can't get jobs after they serve their sentences. Three years versus 7-9 is too big a gap, especially for the the arrogance and resistance Stone showed and the taxpayers' money he wasted prolonging his trial and "working the system" because he could.
8
@abigail49
Maybe. But perhaps that was a shrewd calculation, knowing that Trump would have had a good reason to pardon him if the sentence had been too high.
Much harder for Trump to justify a pardon now.
We'll see.
The only thing I know is that the only way to be safe in the Trump world is if you are a hardened bare-knuckle unrepenting criminal.
@Captain Nemo
He commute in a year or so ;-)
Also in the news today, Ex-Browns (NFL) lineman Greg Robinson faces up to 20 years in prison for alleged possession of 157 pounds of marijuana. When compared to the treatment of Stone we have corruption at the top tier of government. The incredibly light sentence will test the resolve of Trump to keep Stone out of custody. Barr personally manipulated this result, the question is, will it be good enough for Trump? We know that Trump's main if not sole motivation for everything he does is Trump. What benefit to Trump would a pardon of Stone provide?
11
We're Heading Unerringly Toward a Mix of a 1984 and a Brave New World Way of Life!
5
Trump and the republic party insist on one set of laws for themselves and another set for everyone else. They're getting away with it.
How long will the rest of us put up with it - or will we accede to the destruction of the American justice system?
6
If Mr. Trump was smart and listens to his advisors, including his AG, he'd abort these ridiculous Tweets and let the judicial process proceed with the appeals process while Mr. Stone is enjoying this theater in the privacy of his own home. But all evidence is pointed to the contrary. He'll be pardoned anyway when every legitimate avenue of jurisprudence is exercised.
@DavonaD
No one, except Trump himself, can ever accuse Trump of being smart.
1
In recent years, some well-meaning folks have drawn analogies between the administrative strategies of a mafia Don and Mr. Trumps. The analogy has some serious, even dangerous limitations: never before has there been a mafia Don with the resources and the sheer power of the US Presidency.
11
Will they let him wear that hat and shirt w/ collar in Jail? Anyway too good for him.
I hope there will come a day when Donald Trump's sentence for his crimes is a topic of discussion.
19
Too numerous to detail here.
1
So, the judge caved to Trump's demands, ignored the original prosecutors' recommendation, and gave Trump's pal a light sentence. Just disgusting. So, with a four-year sentence - I guess Stone will be eligible for parole in - what - a year or less? Truly shameful. It just sends the wrong message that someone can lie to Congress, tamper with witnesses, commit fraud and even threaten a judge - and only get tap on the wrist because it's Trump's friend.
And why is Stone still free right now? Why didn't they handcuff him and immediately send him to prison?
Just another step in the country's move toward becoming a Banana Republic, where a dictator decides who goes to prison and who doesn't based on how much they'll cover up his crimes.
This corruption needs to end.
11
That brings to date seven convictions and prison sentences resulting from Mueller’s investigation. That’s a lot “witches” so far, isn’t it Donnie?
9
Her sentence was going to vindicate one side or the other. She chose Trump and made fools of the career prosecutors who quit.
6
@Harvey Liszt Maybe she or a family member was threatened.
1
@Harvey Liszt that's some impressive trumpian logic there. Stone is sentenced to 40 months in jail and its a victory for Trump. Sure it is. Every time one of his co-conspirators is put in prison, its another win for him. He must be getting tired of winning.
Well, after the Judges cancelled their emergency meeting when Trump tweeted, and now the sentence of Stone at half what the original prosecutors asked, are we to now assume that the Judiciary is scared of Dear Leader?
6
What is the next institution Trump will trash? With the help of his accomplices he has dismantled the system of checks and balances and is running the country without the legislative branch. He has a Supreme Court willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is determining guilt and innocence from his gut and whomever else he is sharing chocolate cake with at Mar a lago. By time he relinquishes power, if he ever does, America will be an unrecognizable faux monarchy.
7
The Left always wants everything to transcend party...until they do something wrong...then they defend it...for example the FISA warrant abuse. The IG report was a scathing indictment...and nothing much was said about it in the mainstream media.
2
@Tom
defend what?
the Left who?
And what does a FISA warrant have to do with this story?
3
@Tom
There was no FISA warrant abuse. If there had been, the GOP would have had endless hearings to expose it. Its been a dead issue since before Trump first mentioned it.
The problems found by the IG were not "scathing", and the media discussed them at length. Googling IG, FISA results in dozens of links.
And again, if the IG report was so damning, why didn't the GOP do anything?
1
All Judge Amy Berman Jackson's noble hand-wringing, pearl-clutching and protestations of Stone's "...threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the very foundation of our democracy...” to the contrary, the bottom line is she caved to Trump.
Welcome to the United Banana Republics of America.
Yep....that's how the three equal and independent sections of the government work best: the other two do as they're told.
NAUSEATING!
9
@John Poggendorf
My take on the sentence too.
The judiciary is afraid of Trump.
1
No she didn’t. This a reasonable sentence for a first time offender who committed no violent crime.
1
The judge should have given 10 just to show trump & barr who’s boss. And forced trumps hand at a pardon. Which would remove 5th amendment rights on any future testimony.
5
Does anyone really believe there is a “standoff” between Trump and Barr over this? It would be more accurate to say that Barr’s “complaint” is his way of signaling, “Boss, don’t tweet your instructions to me. Call me on the phone”.
It’s past time to drop the editorial pretense of objectivity and report this for what it is: a carefully orchestrated work of political Kabuki theater.
6
With the Feds' 15% discount in sentences for good time, Stone is looking at 34 months, which ain't hay.
1
@Sara Depends on what prison he goes to, assuming he actually does go.
1
When history looks back at the beginning of the fall of this republic, judge Amy Jackson Berman’s name will be among those heroes who will be remembered because she tried to save it.
3
@Sadpatriot
No. Her decision to sentence Stone to half of what the prosecution originally asked for, and in the face of Trump's loud comments that 7-9 was too much, is, instead, a sure sign that the last bastion against Trump is beginning to crumble.
1
I applaud Roger Stone for not playing a rat card and for sticking to what he believes in. The whole charade and conspiracy to unseat President Trump has been a complete waste of tax payer funds and time.
2
@Nature Voter
oh. okay. thanks for the update.
@kenneth you bet
How many convicted felons dress to the nines and smile like a Cheshire Cat unless they know they will not do the time?
6
This ridiculous pardon power needs to be removed. It has no place in an alleged democracy. That won’t stop a president putting pressure on - though I doubt many would be as corrupt and blatant as this one - but it would stop the freeing of people who juries and judges have decided should be in jail.
1
A new trial may be the most punishment he receives. He won’t be going to jail, but the legal expenses could well bankrupt him - unless, of course, the republican oligarchs pick up the tab.
But how does Pail Manafort feel now? He is still sweating it out in prison even as lowlifes like Blago celebrate their freedom. Is Trump keeping him there for his own protection? Who knows what he snitched about.
Those Trump financial records can’t come fast enough. The only real question there is whether Deutsch Bank is more afraid of the United States or Russia. With two of their Trump service team already dead from “suicide,” it might well be Russia.
1
All I want to know is...when will this smug, entitled, crook be behind bars. Maybe, just maybe, extended time in (general population) prison will make him think twice before breaking the law again.
3
The only question left is how long will Trump wait to pardon his bestie? I think of the people of color who have received far harsher sentences for vastly less serious crimes than Stone. What a travesty!
3
I repeat, Stone lied about a central inquiry of the Mueller investigation, i.e., collusion with release of the hacked Clinton campaign emails.
5
if Trump is reelected this country is going to become a banana republic with nuclear weapons!
2
Fine. The judge applied an appropriate sentence somewhere between Tump's "suggestion" and the DOJ Democratic operatives 7-9 years. The notion that he'll serve all three years is silly. It simply won't happen. Should Trump lose in November, he'll be out by January. Should Trump win, perhaps the same release date. Until then, Stone will have to get used to cafeteria trays instead of linen and candlelight for evening dinner accoutrements.
@Mike You're right, Mike. " Should Trump lose in November, he'll be out by January." But Stone may still be in.
A grave miscarriage of justice. 40 months for posing a threat to “the very foundation of our democracy”???? You can now include Judge Amy Berman Jackson amongst those who have allowed themselves to be intimidated by Trump.
6
What a fraud is Trump, trying to appear magnanimous in interfering with Justice, to give an undeserved respite to criminals... like himself. Well, what do we expect, as AG Barr told him repeatedly that, 'being above the law', he is free (licencious actually) to do as he pleases. To this nation's peril!
3
Time to lock them all up! The kleptocracy has gone on long enough. Pardoning known criminals provides an example of corruption worthy of banana republics worldwide.
1
@Sandy Actually, Sandy, the only people who can be pardoned are convicted criminals.
"The case also prompted a virtual standoff between the president and Attorney General William P. Barr over Mr. Trump’s comments about it."
Unless "virtual" is being used as a synonym for "choreographed," the statement above is almost certainly untrue. Trump approved, in advance, - either tacitly or explicitly - Barr's seeming act of independence. The tell is that, after Barr's comments, Trump did not tweet even one ad hominem attacks against his AG.
12
Judge Jackson's words were powerful and strong, but nevertheless she seemed to adhere to Attorney General Barr's demand for a lesser sentence for Roger Stone to less than half the minimal seven years originally recommended by the prosecutors. Will Trump and Barr now be encouraged in their campaign to undermine the "rule of law" and the judiciary that is the only barrier between them and outright autocracy?
8
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-Team Putin/Trump) has already tweeted trying to reasonably explain a president's right to pardon or commute sentences. Most every breathing American over the age of 7 or 8 fully expects Trump to pardon Stone -either immediately, after the election, or when he needs yet another distraction from yet another atrocity. In this case, if and when he pardons him, clearly it would be to keep Stone quiet and from implicating him (Trump). In any other universe, that alone would warrant impeachment and conviction. Yet the pardon will possibly occur and not one single Republican Senator, other than Romney, will care in the slightest. That is America in 2020.
9
It's not a question of whether Stone "tried" to obstruct the investigation, it's just a question of how much he did obstruct the investigation. Thanks to Stone and Manafort, who are willing to take one for Trump, we may never know the extent of Trump's Conspiracy with the Russians to rig the elections. 40 months is an extremely light sentence for covering up treason.
11
Federal prosecutors need to stay their hands from these cases. These matters need to be pursued in state courts under state law, especially after Mr. Trump leaves office.
The Manafort prosecution is a case in point: prosecute in federal court and they try the same or similar case in state court against Mr. Manafort and get dismissed-out for 'double jeopardy' style reasons. With state court prosecutions, the reach of Mr. Trump's sleazy efforts like pardons and normalizing corrupt practices will not fly.
Also curious as to how the Supreme Court will rule on the three cases to be argued before them next month - one allowing a New York Criminal Grand Jury to see Mr. Trump's tax records for possible bank and tax fraud. Hints of things to come.
And Congress needs to pass reforms for federal litigation with the Chief Executive in the future: Require any and all litigation involving the Chief Executive to be resolved in 60 days or less in District and Courts of Appeals. This would make sure that no Chief Executive can ever again use the slowly grinding wheels of justice to block appropriate justice in the future.
6
Will Trump continue to attack the judge in this case, despite her sentencing Stone to a term that he congratulated Barr on recommending?
The judge has agreed not to begin imprisonment for Stone until his motion for a new trial is decided. He'll probably get to stay at home while an appeal is mounted, too.
Election Day is November 3. That means Trump will issue the pardon on November 4.
What are the chances that Stone never serves a day in jail?
This is indeed another victory for Trump and his supporters.
8
Prison time is meant to be a punishment for breaking the law. If Roger Stone serves his time in a club-med style prison, his incarceration will be an interruption in his life, but not a life-changing experience, as it should be. In any case, even if Trump does not pardon him (which he is likely to do), he won't have to serve the full 40 months.
3
It seems to be a political move on the judge's part to provide a lower sentence. I understand, but it certainly is not fair for the white-collar criminals to be set free so easily with little accountability.
Lets be real, we are living in a crime scene and they all seem to skate by. When will the ax fall?
At the same time, are we seeing what has gone on behind closed doors in our capitalist country?
4
@Jackie Canterbury Of course, Jackie. the "bid to protect President Trump" was all about the sanctity of capitalism.
How could the rest of us have missed that?
There is no "standoff" between Barra and Trump. They successfully have interfered with the Stone and Flynn cases and will continue to interfere in cases that involve Trump's criminal friends.
Our only hope is the SDNY and when Trump is out of office he is treated the same as any other American citizens and not above the law, which is clearly the situation presently.
3
Right sentencing, wrong sentencing, appeals or no appeals, Roger Stone was convicted on all charges by a jury of his peers.
Period, full stop.
That said.. Roger Stones trial by peers, conviction and sentencing will be recorded in history not for his crimes, but for the crimes of the sitting president meddling so publicly and brashly with the federal Judicial process.
We can only hope that when Trump is out of office and faces his own criminal charges, he receives no similar brash and public meddling in his trial and sentencing. Teflon Don can only prevail with the teflon for so long before he takes a serious and justified hit for his crimes.
2
@Chuck "Period. full stop." And that's when Chuck's just getting started.
It would seem by appearances that Judge Jackson Berman was, in fact, influenced/threatened (you pick) by Trump's Twitter messages about Stone. Otherwise it would seem she would have adhered more closely to the prosecutor's recommendation.
1
@Dissatisfied It would seem ... it would seem ? To whom? And why?
I wish the judge would've given Stone the maximum sentence, enumerating his crimes and the reasons for such a long sentence- and let the chips fall where they may. This is just a wish, though. Maybe there's some brilliant strategy or some legalese for the sentence to be what it is? I don't care. I'm disappointed, as I'm sure many others are who want to see our Democracy, I mean "democracy" work the way it was intended to.
3
The law, the US Constitution, the fundamental underpinnings of our democratic republic are now playthings for the wealthy and the criminal elite. The Trump Crime Family flouts the law and teaches that if you're wealthy enough you can get away with anything. This destroys the integrity of the legal system so yes, you can force 'working class' people to fill your for-profit cells, but we all know that justice has become an empty promise. It is frightening to think of what this portends.
1
I was initially disappointed in the three year sentence handed down by Judge Berman. I was hoping that she'd ignore AG Barr's amended sentencing recommendations and throw the book at Stone. On further contemplation, I see that she made a shrewd move.
By following the reduced sentence guidance by Trump's appointed AG, she rendered moot the president's main argument that the seven to nine year recommendation was overly harsh. With Stone now subject to the outcome requested by Trump's own DOJ, what can he do? He can't argue that the sentence is too harsh because the guidance came indirectly from Trump himself. His only remedy at this point is an outright pardon, one obviously based on Stone's relationship with the president, not based on righting a draconian sentence. This will be much harder to sell to a skeptical electorate.
Thanks, Judge Amy Berman, you outfoxed them!
4
OK, I felt good for about 5 minutes; Stone got caught and he got sentenced.
Then I realized that he probably won't spend one minute in jail.
Not one minute.
2
Question: does he go straight to prison or is he out during appeal? If straight to prison, then Trump will have to pardon him this week.
Seems excessive for a first time offender of a non-violent crime.
1
@J. Waddell He wasn't convicted of stealing apples from a grocery cart.
This is a test not so much for Stone as for our 'I am the great and powerful mop topped Wizard of the Nation'. You know, the 'I can do anything I want' guy. Well, he should do what he wants and we can decide in November as a nation if we like what he does. He may either be as powerful as his ego thinks or, hopefully, he and his Fifth Column Republican enablers will all be out of office. Go ahead Wiz, show us what you got, pardon Stone and we'll take it from there.
4
Let's be clear about who is the biggest leaker of classified information. AMERICA'S PRIMARY LEAKER IS DONALD TRUMP.
He deliberately and explicitly gave sensitive sources and methods information to Kislyak directly.
Whatever security slips HClinton may or may not have made were sub-trivial in comparison.
3
@shermaro Leaking? This was all about leaking? Leaking what?
Given all the lying and deviousness of anti-Trump FBI and U.S. Justice Dept. officials, it seems ludicrous for Judge Amy Berman Jackson to say Stone's "efforts to thwart a legitimate congressional inquiry of national importance were 'a threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the very foundation of our democracy.'”
1
@PGB why was it ludicrous? was it not true?
Given the comments by the judge, she has delivered a fair sentence, and was not cowed by trump or Barr. It’s a shame that comments by Trump result in the appearance that justice has not been served. Better he keep his little thumbs off Twitter.
1
The only thing stopping Trump from an immediate pardon is that Stone still expects his convictions to be thrown out on appeal and he walks away free and clear of all charges.
Once this does not happen within normal judicial process, Trump will pull a pardon pre-prepared out of his desk and apply his black crayon to it and issue it immediately, without normal pardon powers process.
When I read these articles I can’t help wondering where Republican’s have gone. There was a time in the United States when a Republican couldn’t get through a speech without without draping themselves in the mantle of law and order.
I hope that Republicans don’t think that all this will be forgotten when Donald resides in the dustbin of history.
4
Stone's smiling because he knows he'll be home for Thanksgiving. His buddy The Donald will pardon him the day after the election, and if Trump loses in Nov. he'll pardon everyone else who's helped him lie and cheat starting with himself.
4
Stone and, likely, a whole lot of other ne'er-do-well cronies and white collar crooks, will be pardoned by Trump in November. After the election there will no longer be any political cost to letting anyone off.
2
Seems the swamp is on the rise the deluge engulfing our democracy; Time to form a beachhead and vote anyone but trump in November. Loudly!
2
Not much difference here, if any, if the Godfather was president.
The Don really is "The Don".
1
Please tell me a state can prosecute this guy for something so Trump can't pardon him. Stone is a criminal. There must be state statutes that are applicable to as yet undisclosed crimes.
2
I'm not sure why the article didn't mention that Stone will not start serving his sentence until the judge rules on the juror issue.
This will be the fastest pardon in history.
It's okay, he'll be out again to work on Trump's third re-election campaign in 2024.
2
@Mitchell Turner Cute, Mitch. However, the law precludes a third term.
Nice try, though.
@kenneth
Didn't one of your mayors get a third term - even though the law precludes it?
And since when did Trump ever care about the law?
We have a fellow citizen going to jail for four years for talking. That's right...talking. Someone explain to me how this is remotely just.
@SinNombre Depends on what he says.
The Supreme Court ruled 100 years ago, for example, that shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theatre when there is no fire would be a felony punishable by years in prison.
1
We need to redefine "treason."
We should not have to be at war with another country in order to officially accuse people of sabotaging our Constitution and our democracy, and putting the safety of Americans at risk.
1
@SLB You don't need a redefinition. The law already covers that.
It's certain had that been one of us "average just nobody" citizens we would have gotten the full sentence...perhaps more depending on the color of our skin.
1
I am certain that Barr will make sure that Stone gets put in the easiest prison available until which time Trump springs his friend and colleague out with a pardon.
America used to be great.
2
@Ronn We do aspire to greatness, Ronn, but we can't all hope to attain the greatness of Korea.
Anticipated comment from "Profiles in Spinelessness" Senator Rob Portman when Trump pardons Stone in a few days: "That's not something I would have done. . ."
3
The independent federal judge - who has been trusted with a lifetime appointment - has delivered Stone's sentence. He earned it. Judge Jackson was in the courtroom for every moment of testimony. I trust her judgement over the keyboard warriors here who simply pile up the verbiage.
1
Stone was arrested on seven criminal charges and convicted on all counts. Isn't it past time we stop referring to Stone as a "dirty trickster" a call him what he is: A convicted criminal?
Trump’s recent granting of clemency to Michael Milken and 10 other white collar criminals was surely just the warmup to his pardoning Roger Stone.
We are so past our “have you no sense of decency, sir” moment with Trump.
1
Trump says Stone should be free because Comey is free. But Comey is free because Trump hasn’t prosecuted him for any alleged crime.
I know Trump is lazy, but for him to say his pal Stone has to be free until gets around to prosecuting someone else is making the laziness pay off.
I'm no 'spring chicken', so all I ask for is to live long enough to see Trump either resign, arrested, impeached again and not acquitted, beaten at the polls, or put in prison. I want to see him pay for every dastardly deed he's ever committed. After that, I can go in peace.
3
How long do you suppose it will be before Mr. Trump grants Mr. Stone a pardon?
I am less concerned that Stone's time in a prison cell will be short - Trump having primed the pardon pump yesterday with that intent - than I am hopeful that the most corrupt president in American history will eventually replace him there.
2
He threatened a judge and a witness. 3 years is nothing considering he will probably actually only serve a year in a half.
I would have liked the sentence to be effective on December 1.
@Gigi After the election? Why?
So the judge, outside of the executive branch, supported Trump and Barr and against the prosecutors.
Multiple pictures show Stone is smiling as he is walking into the courthouse. He knows the outcome of all this. He'll be enjoying the Florida sunshine sooner than I will, a free man.
1
@D. Keefer are you saying you'd like it to rain in Florida?
What a Joke. The judge should have doubled the original justice department's recommendation and given him 18 years. That being said, it really doesn't matter though if he got 6 months or life in prison - Trump will certainly pardon him.
Trump’s reelection is all about avoiding similar justice for himself, times ten.
Wonder how long until Stone is Trump's campaign manager and CNN political analyst? My guess is by June.
But doesn't he now get a (Presidential) pardon and everything goes back to the way it was ?
The ever "insightful" Donald Trump is right when he is concerned with "Fairness." Rodger Stone only obstructed a congressional inquiry in a bid to protect Donald Trump. It's not as if Rodger Stone stole money from a cancer charity, started a fake "University," told 15,413 lies to the American people or used $400 million of taxpayer money for personal gain, at the expense of our national security.
5
What does it matter. Trump will pardon him anyhow. Barr and the corrupt Republicans will look the other way and defend him no matter what. All you need as criminals is to be friends with Trump.
First of all, eight felonies is nothing compared to Hillary's email going in the wrong box. In fact, this whole thing is her fault.
Trump has already advised Stone he'll need to lay low in a country club prison for several months until this thing blows over. It could be a problem that Stone is not a sympathetic character, so it may be necessary for him to stay out of the sun, get a walker, and go with "old and in failing heath."
Yet some are serving life sentences for marijuana.
3
I'm not sure what all of the uproar is over Trump suggesting his own department erred in their proposed sentence which was much longer than established guidelines. First, the judge had no duty to abide by Trump's suggestion. And second, he could simply commute the sentence or pardon Stone regardless of the length of sentence imposed by the judge. That's one of the checks and balances in the constitution. And there have been over 20,000 presidential pardons in our history.
5
@R.R.
When the DOJ is Trump’s “own department”, THAT is the problem.
Are Republicans actually so ill informed about government that they don’t know corruption when they see it?
Or is it that they simply don’t care as long as it’s Republican corruption?
4
@R.R I'm not an expert on the legal details. For me, the story was about right vs wrong.
3
@R.R Because to get buy in from the citizens of the republic, even the appearance of impropriety and favoritism should be avoided. Is that really so difficult to understand? Parents do it in families and Teachers in the classroom.
If you are not sure what the uproar is over, perhaps a community college has an ethics class.
1
Trump and his sycophants exude sleaze at every turn of their collective wrongdoing. "Drain the swamp?" Right!
46
Trump will pardon Stone, Manafort, Flynn, Gates, at least.
12
Steal a dollar, get 10 years.
Steal an election, get a slap in the wrist.
136
@Chicago Guy But always somebody else's wrist.
5
@Chicago Guy
Excellent comment and sadly, oh so true.
4
No matter whether Trump pardons this dirty trickster, there seems to be nothing that will get us up and take to the streets. Without demonstrations fighting for democracy Trump will be reelected. Why are we so passive? We use our energy on social media but seem too lazy to get off our butts. I wish I knew how to organize a demonstration but I don't have a clue where to start. I want peaceful dignified demonstrations that could change us for the better. Not left wing only but many of us walking for America and moderate Republicans welcomed. Maybe then the Republicans will get some idea that we care about this country. I am so very tired of this administration and the erosion of our constitution and common decency.
47
@Linda Demonstrations won’t change anything at this point. Put your energy toward voting and getting everyone one you know to vote blue no matter who. Forget nitpicking about this democrat or that. Just get everyone out to vote or prepare for this to be the new normal, because if trump is re-elected, all of his norm-crushing will be validated.
2
A black man faces 20+ years in prison for possession of weed. The scales of justice seem balanced.
85
Quid Pro Quo Pardon coming down the pike!
Impeachment #2 Time!
18
But he said there was no pro quo lol.
1
I won't waste my breath commenting on any pardon of Stone by Trump because, for better or worse, he has the right and the power to do it. It's the law. However, only a fool would believe this farce that Barr and Trump are at odds. Barr's position is simple - if you want me to do your dirty work, shut up about it. But Trump can't help from crowing. He's a child.
47
3 years plus 4 months isn't enough time in the slammer for the dirty trickster, Roger J. Stone Jr. Will Trump, on his rally-swing west while the Democrats caucus in Nevada, pardon his corrupt pal Roger Dodger from Florida? No miscarriage of justice by Judge Amy Berman Jacobs; if anything she was too lenient in her sentencing of the bagman and dogsbody who covered up for Donald Trump during the Mueller Investigation. Bill Barr, Trump's pocket AG and Deputy Dawg, suggested a light sentence for the old Stone (7 years Trump's junior). Will Trump pardon Stone before the bagman-trickster squeals? We'll see.
10
Hopefully, mentally ill potus will be standing in front of this judge to hear his sentence in the near future.
21
For a long time, I could not decide which is the stronger reason that stopped this amoral president (who was the leading clown on a show called The Apprentice, where he fired applicants at his whim from the cannon of abuse and humiliation) from pardoning his servants left and right. Was it that he is a sociopath who does not have any sense or loyalty ? or was it that he is afraid that his excessive pardons would be grounds for impeachment in the House, a word that he loathes, even if nothing short of treason would convict him in the Senate ? Now, I know: it is the latter. The prospect of being impeached for obstruction of justice being so slim after the last failed attempt (badly done by Dems), he feels free to dole out pardons, with the added defiance and impudence of a clown-in-chief. We are in Gotham city, people, and the Joker is here !
10
For a long time, I could not decide which is the stronger reason that stopped this amoral president (who was the leading clown on a show called The Apprentice, where he fired applicants at his whim from the cannon of abuse and humiliation) from pardoning his servants left and right. Was it that he is a sociopath who does not have any sense or loyalty ? or was it that he is afraid that his excessive pardons would be grounds for impeachment in the House, a word that he loathes, even if nothing short of treason would convict him in the Senate ? Now, I know: it is the latter. The prospect of being impeached for obstruction of justice and abuse of power being so slim after the last failed attempt (badly done by Dems), he feels free to dole out pardons, with the added defiance and impudence of a clown-in-chief. We are in Gotham city, people, and the Joker is here !
1
Out by Christmas?
5
@Patrick ~
Probably by November. With a full pardon, he can vote.
@Patrick
Out by this weekend, more likely.
1
The next question is whether Stone has moved to the top of Trump's list for a pardon. Trump is signalling big time that he's willing to pardon people provided he likes them. I'll leave it up to you which people Trump "likes." And why.
Meanwhile the Republican leaders, who are supposed to protect this country, are looking away as if to say, "is this problem?" Remember in November. In every race, state or federal, and especially for any Republican Senators running for reelection.
12
We would be wise to remember the words of John Dalberg, 1st Baron Acton, written in 1887 In a letter to Bishop Creighton:
"I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption it is the other way against holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it."
The Republican Senate missed this point entirely, much to their eternal shame. History will not be kind to them for they became criminals, traitors to The Republic, treasonous to our principles. Trump is clueless to all of this. His untutored mind is that of a predator intent on to prey at any cost to others, nothing more, nothing less.
12
Roger stone is an enemy of the United States who has participated in activities and at destroying our democracy. No punishment is too great for him.
40
@LAM As I've asked you many times :
"activities and at" ? What does it mean?
Trump can't pardon a conviction that isn't final. Let's hope Stone fights this all the way to Groundhog Day 2021, and loses same as Trump.
10
Are you sure about that? Then how did Ford pardon Nixon without even a prosecution commenced?
@Martha R I don't believe that is true. Remember Nixon? Ford pardoned him even though there had not been a judgement against Nixon. In this case, I suspect that, as soon as the appeal is rejected, King #45 will have his hand on a pardon. In fact, he is likely to make it on July 4th to emphasize "freedom".
@BigFootMN @Bill gagliano
Trump could proffer a pardon but Stone is not obligated to accept it, and Trump has no reason to rush things.
"Circumstances may be made to bring innocence under the penalties of the law. If so brought, escape by confession of guilt implied in the acceptance of a pardon may be rejected,-preferring to be the victim of the law rather than its acknowledged transgressor"
Burdick v. United States, 236 U.S. 79, 90–91, 35 S. Ct. 267, 269, 59 L. Ed. 476 (1915)
The original 5-7 years is what is set forth in federal sentencing guidelines.
Stone gets 3 years and trump gets what he wants by intimidation of the justice department, if it can still be called that under Barr, and the Judge.
It really an outrageous situation.
Vote my friends for any candidate that will kick the corrupt trump out of office.
19
Does Roger Stone look like the Christopher Lloyd character from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"?
5
I guess Trump is going to pardon him cause he knows like all his other cronies when they go to jail they ain't coming out as Gandhi or Mandela.
4
Grossly inadequate sentence.
.
7 - 9 years would have been unreasonably lenient to begin with.
11
Trump is going to pardon him soon. Three years short vacation in a jail is not too bad.
5
@Tysons123 Not even jail, more like a country club. Can he get his meals catered by a good French restaurant?
Of course unbelievable...If it would have been somebody like me, it would have been 20 years. And no doubt, he will be pardoned, so whats the point. :(
10
Utterly disgusted at the state of governance in the United States.
21
He'll do 6 months, tops.
5
At the end of the day pretty much those surrounding Trump during his 2016 election are in jail. I am sure Stone will find some like companions in there to pass the time away.
5
I don't understand why so many are saying Trump can't pardon Stone because the sentence is so lenient. We are talking about Donald J. Trump. He doesn't think Stone should have been charged with a crime. He wants Barr to investigate the investigators.
That pardon will be signed as soon as he can put down his phone. What a disgrace.
8
Will he ever spend a day in the prison system? One would hope he will be punished. But sooner or later, he will be pardoned by the President.
2
It’s all for appearance sake, only. Six months in trump tower.
How long til the pardon comes out?
1
@R
It was no doubt "drafted" long ago.
Another wish-washy report by the NYT. Look at the actions not the words. A criminal has just received a reduced sentence after a king recommended a reduction and the royal court obliged.
The royal court also refused to answer very appropriate questions by the judge. The judiciary is now in the king's pocket.
The NYT does not feel the heat slowly rising. Soon they will be boiling and the free press will also be a casualty of this monarchy.
Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.
Disgusting.
9
Stone will be pardoned very very soon:
• He knows too much and the suicide card has been played with Epstein
• Election is coming up and Trump needs a broker between him and Putin
All in all, nothing to see here — we are already a third world dictatorship so what’s another pardon.
After all, Trump has learned his lesson if you ask Sen Collins — the lesson that he can do anything and won’t be held accountable.
4
@Opinioned!
A pardoned person has no legal jeopardy with regard to that specific prosecution, and can be compelled to testify under oath, under penalty of contempt.
It's just as likely 45 will expect Stone to do gladly do the time so he stays quiet.
Ah. Now comes the pardon.
1
My bet is he never does a single day due to Donnie and his Pardon Pen.
5
Only the best are pardoned. Phew!
1
this is what the pardon gravy train was all about. stone will just get rolled up onto it.
1
I wish I could say I was surprised.
The US has been exposed to the world as the emperor with no clothes. Apparently it's not so easy to control and avoid even an imbecilic caricature of a dictator.
4
And now the pardon...
1
Why did the judge give him half of what prosecutors recommended?
4
Trump will just pardon him. Now is a great time to be a Trump fan and a criminal. You'll get away with the crime!
1
Put him away where he belongs.
The term “standoff” implies that Barr and Trump have different goals....
@David Garfield They do.
Just 3 years, if the criminal convicted of multiple counts happens to be a friend of President Trump.
And an African-American gets more prison time for just stealing a pack of cookies for his hungry child.
Justice isn't blind in America.
5
Why does our society continue to destroy these old men? Everyone else in politics and government lies, yet isn’t punished. What a joke.
1
Sentenced - 40 months
Pardoned - 40 minutes
2
Oh dear. Was Roger's work interrupted by a prison sentence? Can djt win the election in 2020 without Roger's help? Tsk tsk! What a shame.
1
Just saw a news article that a man was sentenced to 20 years for marijuana possession. Roger Stone, traitor and rat(can't use the word in this paper), gets a slap on the wrist of 40 months. Shameful justice. But at least the judge gave Stone more than a one day in jail sentence.
Let's hope Judge Berman still gives him the 7 - 9 years, as the prosecutors recommended before Barr and Trump intervened.
We know Trump will pardon Stone, but a few minutes of knowing that some (not the Republicans on the Sup. Ct) in the judiciary still have integrity will be refreshing.
1
Send this lying criminal to jail, where he belongs.
From the looks on the faces of this Perp and his entourage while going into the courtroom, despite whatever the Judge rules, they know the fix is in. And under this President the Fix is whatever he wants it to be, and for whomever his little mind thinks it ought to be for. Now I know just why, in ancient China, one of the worst curses one could wish on a foe was: 'May you live in interesting times'.
Oh, never mind.
Roger and Rod will be toasting each other very soon on their dismissal from behind bars.
After all, the King has spoken “UNFAIR!”
1
His trial was a sham. He should have gone to prison for nine years. A horribly criminal and corrupt trump, White racism, corruption, and cronyism insured that justice was not done. He should be investigated on fresh charges and put away for a full term
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A half hour from now: *President Trump has pardoned Roger Stone"."