A federal judge is keeping former Trump campaign associate Roger Stone on track to be sentenced on Feb. 20. She said, however, she won’t send him to prison before considering his request for a new trial.
Stone was convicted of lying to and obstructing Congress and witness tampering. A new team of prosecutors have requested “substantial” prison time for Stone, but said it should be “far less” than the seven to nine years requested by the previous team, which withdrew from the case after the Justice Department nixed their sentencing recommendation as “excessive.”
On Feb. 14, Stone filed a sealed motion for a new trial, alleging juror misconduct. On Feb. 18, he amended the motion. The same day, the government filed an opposition to the original motion, also under seal.
Stone, a conservative campaign strategist, has known Trump for decades and has been one of his most loyal supporters.
During a Feb. 18 teleconference, District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sided with the new prosecutors and stayed the course on the sentencing.
The defense wanted a brief delay of the sentencing.
Jackson also said that she won’t execute the sentencing and send Stone to prison before addressing his new trial request. She said she was considering holding a hearing on it.
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Trump has drawn ire, including from his Attorney General William Barr, for criticizing the sentencing of Stone on Twitter.Trump–Stone
Stone said it was he who originally conceived, back in the 1980s, the idea that Trump should run for president. He resigned, however, from Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in August 2015.Trump said he fired Stone.
Stone continued to assist the campaign after being fired and has supported Trump’s presidency.
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