Call it "abuse of power" or a crisis of credibility in the US political system -- President Donald Trump went ahead and commuted the sentence of his friend and advisor Roger Stone. The White House in a statement was vocal in denouncing the judgement by the federal prosecutors who had found Stone guilty of meddling with credible facts that were being probed in connection with the involvement of Russian government in Trump's election campaign of 2016.
A statement acquitting Stone off the charges read: "He has already suffered a lot like many others in this case. Roger Stone is a free man now," the White House announced, terming the findings by the prosecutors into the investigation as "Russian hoax," reported AP. Stone, who was partying with his friends in Georgia on Friday, said that the President had told him that his trial was unfair.
Trump has commuted Stone's sentence as ruled by the prosecutors in November last year. The President had earlier this year approached the US Attorney General William Barr who also termed the initial findings of prosecutors "baseless" and "hoax."
While the White House never clearly disagreed that Stone had committed the crimes, in its statement it said, "if Special Counsel Robert Mueller had not been pursuing the absolutely baseless probe, Stone wouldn't stand charged."
Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
However, many prominent personalities in the US including the Republicans have condemned Trump's action and called it injustice to the system.
In a series of tweets, Kyle Cheney, Congress reporter at White House for 'Politico' shared a picture of the statement by Appeal's court that denied stay as pleaded by Stone on his sentencing. Here's the tweet:
BREAKING: Appeals court denies Stone’s last-ditch attempt to stay his sentence. pic.twitter.com/yc1NRnGKeS
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 10, 2020
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) who worked to prepare the Mueller's report with the ACS (American Constitution Society) tweeted:
The judge overseeing Michael Flynn's case asked a full appeals court on Thursday to review the ending of his prosecution, saying that it marked “a dramatic break from precedent that threatens the orderly administration of justice.â€https://t.co/0VLUi3mhYU
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 11, 2020
Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee tweeted:
No surprise! Trump commutes Roger Stone’s sentence. B4 Trump leaves office, he’ll ensure all his crooked friends are free to launder $, commit fraud, do dirty deals w/ Russians, tax evasion, commit treason, & sell out our democracy! Dems impeached, Rep Senators failed to remove!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) July 11, 2020
Cheri Jacobus, the Executive Producer of "America Reads The Mueller Report' shared tweets by Quinta Jurecic – a writer who also contributes to The Atlantic. Here are a few shocking tweets that claim conversations between Michael Cohen and Trump:
Michael Cohen told Mueller that he heard Stone tell Trump over the phone that Wikileaks would son release information on Clinton. After the first Wikileaks dump in July, Trump “said to Cohen something to the effect of, ‘I guess Roger was right.’"
— Quinta Jurecic (@qjurecic) July 11, 2020
New portions of the Mueller report relating to the Stone case were recently unsealed thanks to @buzzfeednews and @EPICprivacy. Here is what they said. https://t.co/onHE9mx1iy
— Quinta Jurecic (@qjurecic) July 11, 2020
Vocal against President's favoritism, the US Senate from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar tweeted:
“It is one of the most nauseating instances of corrupt government favoritism the United States has ever seen.â€
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) July 11, 2020
Trump’s commutation of Roger Stone’s sentence is an unforgivable betrayal of his office https://t.co/cW021VB7e0
Quite a handful of representatives spoke for Trump, which includes Lindsay Graham, the US Senate candidate with over 1.7 million followers. He called the alleged crimes registered against Stone as "first time offence" in his tweet:
In my view it would be justified if President @realDonaldTrump decided to commute Roger Stone's prison sentence.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 10, 2020
Mr. Stone is in his 70s and this was a non-violent, first-time offense.https://t.co/jbbGTucRpq
Editor of Washington Post, Ruth Marcus spoke for the people who elect their representatives. Here's the thread:
It is bad enough for Trump to misuse his clemency power to protect Stone--and himself. But this blast at Mueller and prosecutors--"These charges were the product of recklessness borne of frustration and malice"--is beyond even the Trumpian pale. (Or not.)
— Ruth Marcus (@RuthMarcus) July 11, 2020
The move is not well received by those in Intelligence and the Capitol Hill. Adam Schiff, the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman said, "Trump's move made it clear that there are two systems for justice in America: One foe his criminal friends, and the other for everyone else [sic]."
Democrat Tom Perez criticized Trump's action and called out Americans to exercise their franchise for Joe Biden. He tweeted:
The American people are fed up with the culture of corruption in this administration, and that’s why on November 3 they’re going to elect @JoeBiden.
— Tom Perez (@TomPerez) July 11, 2020
Stone who stood accused until his sentence was commuted by Trump, was about to start his 40 months imprisonment from Tuesday, but was spotted partying, and still lobbying for Trump in Florida.
