On Friday evening, Congressional Democrats blasted President Donald Trump after he commuted the prison sentence of longtime associate Roger Stone, who was set to be behind bars for over three years starting next week.
Last year, Stone was found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into Russian election interference and witness tampering. he was sentenced to more than three years in prison.
Trump’s decision to keep his longtime confidant out of jail sparked a fierce backlash from Democrats who have been pounding on the White House on an array of issues.
“Commuting Roger Stone’s sentence is a terrible blow to justice and the rule of law. Through this act, Trump is saying: ‘If you lie for me, if you cover up for me, if you obstruct for me, I will protect you.'” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
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“Donald Trump has abandoned the rule of law and made a mockery of our democracy. He truly is the most corrupt president in history,” tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), the chairs of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, respectively, said in a joint statement that Trump “abused the powers of his office” to reward “an individual that could directly implicate him in criminal misconduct.”
The White House’s announcement of the commutation was not particularly surprising given Trump’s series of statements hinting he was mulling intervening in the case against Stone, and came shortly after an appeals court denied Stone’s motion to delay the start of his prison term.
“Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. “Mr. Stone would be put at serious medical risk in prison,” she added.
Democrats, however, said it was the White House that was undermining fair treatment under the law, suggesting the president was seeking to give a pass to his friends.
“The American ideal of equal justice under the law is once again being undermined by a lawless president who regards the Justice Department as his personal plaything,” said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“There should not be two justice systems in the U.S.—we can and we must do better,” added Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
Addressing Trump’s controversial move, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she’s “recommending that we pass a law that presidents cannot issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the President, which this was”
Stone is just the latest individual with ties to Trump to receive clemency. Trump has commuted or pardoned multiple white-collar criminals convicted of crimes such as corruption, gambling fraud, and racketeering.
Commuting Roger Stone’s sentence is a terrible blow to justice and the rule of law.
Through this act, Trump is saying: “If you lie for me, if you cover up for me, if you obstruct for me, I will protect you.”
Another tragic day for American democracy. pic.twitter.com/kgIXpc6HdG
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 11, 2020
Donald Trump has abandoned the rule of law and made a mockery of our democracy. He truly is the most corrupt president in history. https://t.co/GA7apdmd3Y
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 11, 2020
Trump just commuted Roger Stone’s sentence.
Stone lied and intimidated witnesses to hide Trump’s exploitation of the Russian hack of his opponent’s campaign.
With Trump there are now two systems of justice in America:
One for Trump's criminal friends and one for everyone else.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 11, 2020
A jury found Roger Stone guilty. By commuting his sentence, President Trump has infected our judicial system with partisanship and cronyism and attacked the rule of law. @HouseJudiciary will conduct an aggressive investigation into this brazen corruption.https://t.co/saCTTljLAR
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) July 11, 2020
Roger Stone is a criminal who protected Trump and had his sentence commuted because of it. This is yet another example of the blatant corruption & abuse of power that pervades this administration.
There should not be two justice systems in the U.S.—we can and we must do better.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 11, 2020
The American ideal of equal justice under the law is once again being undermined by a lawless president who regards the Justice Department as his personal plaything.
By refusing to hold President Trump accountable, the Republican Party bears responsibility for his lawlessness. https://t.co/0VfaL9LYeY
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 11, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Trump commuting Roger Stone’s sentence: “I’m recommending that we pass a law that presidents cannot issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the President, which this was” https://t.co/ZzhLshSw7I pic.twitter.com/WCwCM5Xvq2
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 11, 2020
