Roger Stone, the political consultant and longtime ally of US president
Donald Trump, has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison after being convicted of lying to
Congress and witness tampering.
Stone is an old friend and confidante of Trump, who describes himself as a “dirty trickster”.
The sentencing follows prosecutors initially recommending a term in
prison of between seven and nine years.
But earlier this month, Department of Justice leadership took the unprecedented step of reversing the sentencing recommendation shortly after a 2 am Trump tweet complaining that it was “a horrible and very unfair situation” for Stone. READ: The Roger Stone Controversy Explained For BritsUS district court judge Amy Berman Jackson said Stone’s crimes demanded a significant time behind bars but said the seven to nine years originally recommended by the Department of Justice were excessive.
Stone’s lawyers had asked for a sentence of probation, citing his age of 67 years, his health and his lack of criminal history.
He was convicted in November on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the
Trump campaign co-ordinated with
Russia to tip the 2016 election.
Over the course of five decades, 66-year-old Stone has cultivated a successful career in politics without ever becoming a politician.
Instead, he amassed power and influence as a behind-the-scenes lobbyist and consultant, playing the
Washington game without ever being constrained by the rules that normally apply to those seeking office.
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