Washington, D.C. — Today, all four career federal prosecutors withdrew from the case against President Donald Trump’s friend, Roger Stone, after the U.S. Department of Justice indicated that it would reduce its sentencing recommendation. Stone was convicted for making false statements, obstructing Congress, and tampering with a witness as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The decision to overrule the veteran prosecutors came hours after President Trump tweeted his displeasure with the recommended sentence. In response, Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The president, freshly empowered by the U.S. senators who voted to cover up his wrongdoing, has now demonstrated that he is willing to use the power of the Justice Department to cover his tracks and help his friends who were convicted of serious federal crimes. The Justice Department’s watchdog should launch an immediate investigation into Trump’s actions and the department’s response. The House should also launch an immediate investigation. This is yet another example of the politicization of the Justice Department under the Trump administration. Every senator who turned a blind eye to the president’s corruption last week is responsible for this attack on U.S. democracy.
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