Trump's clemency for Roger Stone wipes away fine and supervised release

[webfact]

Trump's clemency for Roger Stone wipes away fine and supervised release

By Sarah N. Lynch and Mark Hosenball

 

FILE PHOTO: Roger Stone, former campaign adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives for his criminal trial on charges of lying to Congress, obstructing justice and witness tampering at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., November 6, 2019. REUTERS/ Tom Brenner/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's executive clemency to his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone not only commuted the veteran Republican operative's prison term but it also spared him a hefty fine and two years of supervised release.

 

The details of the clemency arrangement were made public by the Justice Department and Stone's lawyer on Monday after the judge who presided over the case asked the Trump administration to explain whether the commutation announced on Friday meant he would not be supervised, as many convicted felons are after being freed.

 

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had set a Tuesday deadline to receive a copy of Trump's clemency order along with an explanation about whether it also commuted the period Stone was meant to be supervised after leaving prison.

 

"I commute the entirety of the prison sentence imposed upon the said Roger Stone, Jr. to expire immediately," according to Trump's order.

 

"I also commute the entirety of the two-year term of supervised released with all its conditions, and finally, I remit any unpaid balance of the $20,000 fine imposed."

 

Congressional Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of abuse of power and an assault on the rule of law.

 

Stone, 67, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after being convicted by a jury in Washington last year of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Stone was found guilty of all seven counts against him. The commutation did not erase Stone's conviction as a pardon would have.

 

Stone was due to have reported to a federal prison in Georgia on Tuesday. Trump's action marked his most assertive intervention to protect an associate in a criminal case and his latest use of executive clemency to benefit an ally.

 

Stone's attorney Grant Smith, who tweeted out a copy of Trump's order, said it speaks for itself in answering the judge's inquiry.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Scott Malone and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-14

 

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[CelticBhoy]

He has a face I wouldn't tire punching.

[Tug]

That’s our Donald heaping shame on our country and undermining the rule of law 

[J Town]

There is no question that Stone is a convicted criminal, and his crimes were those of protecting 45. In what reality could 45 commuting this criminal's sentence be anything other than corrupt?

[utalkin2me]

"The rule of law applies to all". 

 

It is all such a bloody farce. 

[mtls2005]

That, waiver of fines, means he can vote too.

 

 

[worgeordie]

Can Trump pardon himself, when the time comes?

He makes Richard Nixon look like a saint.

regards worgeordie

Edited July 14, 2020 by worgeordie

[J Town]

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Can Trump pardon himself, when the time comes?

He makes Richard Nixon look like a saint.

Unresolved whether or not 45 can pardon himself. The fact that this was one of the first legal issues he asked about, considering the shallowness of his thought process, speaks volumes.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_pardons_in_the_United_States#:~:text=by state action.-,Self-pardons,pardon) is an unresolved issue.&text=On July 22%2C 2017%2C President,far is LEAKS against us.

 

He makes Nixon look like a saint, Bush Jr a REAL stable genius.

[Somtamnication]

This corruption is so in-your-face and it is so very sad to see the 'merkins just stand by and approve. The new American way has arrived!

[mtls2005]

17 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Can Trump pardon himself, when the time comes?

 

Probably not.

 

There is a DoJ/Office of Legal Counsel Memorandum, dated from August 5, 1974 which is supposed to say that a President cannot pardon himself.

 

Normally these OLC "memos" rule but given the current climate who knows? ag barr culd just write a new OLC memo saying a self-pardon is ok if your last name is trump.

 

Probably moot anyway, he can just resign and have president pence issue a pardon to him and his family.

[J Town]

25 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

This corruption is so in-your-face and it is so very sad to see the 'merkins just stand by and approve. The new American way has arrived!

I take exception to this remark. The majority of US citizens are absolutely against 45. It can be daunting - the elections are rigged on many levels with the electoral college, gerrymandering, and voter suppression, all fighting against a fair election process. Add voter apathy to that and it would appear the US has given up. I'm hoping 45 has generated enough anger against racism, homophobia, corruption, etc to encourage people to vote him out of office. And if he gets another term, then god help us all. That will be the end of even a shred of democracy in the US.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

That’s our Donald heaping shame on our country and undermining the rule of law 

Let's not forget that Americans elected him to be POTUS - at least according to the US election system.

Trump wouldn't be where he is without the supports of 60+ million Americans.

[OneMoreFarang]

44 minutes ago, J Town said:

I take exception to this remark. The majority of US citizens are absolutely against 45. It can be daunting - the elections are rigged on many levels with the electoral college, gerrymandering, and voter suppression, all fighting against a fair election process. Add voter apathy to that and it would appear the US has given up. I'm hoping 45 has generated enough anger against racism, homophobia, corruption, etc to encourage people to vote him out of office. And if he gets another term, then god help us all. That will be the end of even a shred of democracy in the US.

Looking from outside of the USA I wonder how a person like Trump can get even 10% support. It was and is so obvious that he is an incompetent liar - among many other "character" flaws. Why would anybody vote for somebody like him?

I know Hillary was also not exactly perfect but not half as bad as Trump.

[J Town]

Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

Looking from outside of the USA I wonder how a person like Trump can get even 10% support. It was and is so obvious that he is an incompetent liar - among many other "character" flaws. Why would anybody vote for somebody like him?

I know Hillary was also not exactly perfect but not half as bad as Trump.

The common thread that is FINALLY having the veneer removed is blatant racism. If you say that BLM is a symbol of hate, you might just be a racist. His rallies are frightening examples of dividing and conquering, and his supporters love to hate.

[welovesundaysatspace]

What do you expect from a banana republic? 
 

 

 

[teatime101]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

he can just resign and have president pence issue a pardon to him and his family

He's still indictable under state jurisdictions, I believe.

[Berkshire]

10 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Looking from outside of the USA I wonder how a person like Trump can get even 10% support. It was and is so obvious that he is an incompetent liar - among many other "character" flaws. Why would anybody vote for somebody like him?

I know Hillary was also not exactly perfect but not half as bad as Trump.

I've often pondered this myself.  But you have to remember, most of the country didn't really know Trump back in 2016.  He was just a boastful self-promoter who had some success on the show The Apprentice.  Most Americans didn't even know about his business failures or corrupt dealings.  The stars were aligned back then, with loyal Republicans, moderates/independents who wanted "something new," and of course, help from the Russians.  Add to that a lethargic democratic electorate and Trump managed to squeak by...although he lost the popular vote significantly.

 

In 2020, we all know Trump to be the most dishonest, incompetent, and corrupt President ever.  There are no more excuses for those who still support Trump.  This is where I truly don't understand the minds of Trump supporters. 

[J Town]

6 minutes ago, teatime101 said:

He's still indictable under state jurisdictions, I believe.

Absolutely! If he does not get a second term, the Southern District of New York (SDNY) is ready to pounce. The handwriting is on the wall. Barr has systematically fired attorneys working on cases involving 45 without cause. Fortunately, the attorneys following in their footsteps are carrying on. As well, the Supreme Court decision to allow SDNY access to 45's financial records was a severe blow. And, if you take just a small step back, you have to ask yourself why anyone would go all the way to the Supreme Court to hide financials unless you had criminal activity you were hiding.

[david555]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

That’s our Donald heaping shame on our country and undermining the rule of law 

Now in all honesty …..compare Obama's very long  list off pardons...… & in detail the crimes for what they where convicted ….. 

https://www.justice.gov/pardon/obama-pardons

Edited July 14, 2020 by david555

[J Town]

7 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

In 2020, we all know Trump to be the most dishonest, incompetent, and corrupt President ever.  There are no more excuses for those who still support Trump.  This is where I truly don't understand the minds of Trump supporters. 

It appears supporters of 45 would prefer to let the US collapse completely rather than admit they were wrong. Such hubris is showing itself to be costly, for many all they have to give.

[J Town]

1 minute ago, david555 said:

Now in all honesty …..compare Obama's list from pardons...… & in detail the crimes for what they where convicted ….. 

https://www.justice.gov/pardon/obama-pardons

No no no no no - red herring. One does not excuse the other.

[david555]

1 minute ago, J Town said:

No no no no no - red herring. One does not excuse the other.

1 rule for 1 and other rules for other ?…..I just was curious about the former president(s)….. Obama beat in numbers the 3 other ones ….Bush , Clinton and Trump ….. I saw even several cocain delicts pardoned ….

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[Eric Loh]

3rd world authoritarian regime stuff. US rapidly declining global image. Will take years to repair US international standing after Trump gone. 

[Sujo]

2 minutes ago, david555 said:

1 rule for 1 and other rules for other ?…..I just was curious about the former president(s)….. Obama beat in numbers the 3 other ones ….Bush , Clinton and Trump ….. I saw even several cocain delicts pardoned ….

What are you on about. Its not an issue that he gives pardons.

 

the issue is that he has freed a man that lied to protect him.

[J Town]

2 minutes ago, david555 said:

1 rule for 1 and other rules for other ?…..I just was curious about the former president(s)….. Obama beat in numbers the 3 other ones ….Bush , Clinton and Trump ….. I saw even several cocain delicts pardoned ….

No no no no no. You can't make excuses for wrong doing by pointing fingers at others. The "But he did it" argument is a classic specious red herring.

[david555]

Just now, Sujo said:

What are you on about. Its not an issue that he gives pardons.

 

the issue is that he has freed a man that lied to protect him.

O.K. …. but check a moment the Obama list AND the crimes they did also ….

[OneMoreFarang]

22 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

I've often pondered this myself.  But you have to remember, most of the country didn't really know Trump back in 2016.  He was just a boastful self-promoter who had some success on the show The Apprentice.  Most Americans didn't even know about his business failures or corrupt dealings.  The stars were aligned back then, with loyal Republicans, moderates/independents who wanted "something new," and of course, help from the Russians.  Add to that a lethargic democratic electorate and Trump managed to squeak by...although he lost the popular vote significantly.

 

In 2020, we all know Trump to be the most dishonest, incompetent, and corrupt President ever.  There are no more excuses for those who still support Trump.  This is where I truly don't understand the minds of Trump supporters. 

Not that I understand them but the best explanation which I found until now is that the Trump voters are mostly against those liberals. And his voters seem to love anything that upsets the liberals. Yes, that is something Trump is good at...

[J Town]

2 minutes ago, david555 said:

O.K. …. but check a moment the Obama list AND the crimes they did also ….

Off topic. If you want to discuss their crimes (and there are many, no argument) I would suggest you start another thread. Again - specious red herring.

 

 

 

Edited July 14, 2020 by J Town
speling [sic]

[J Town]

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And his voters seem to love anything that upsets the liberals. Yes, that is something Trump is good at...

Probably the truest post I've seen in life!

????