Breaking: DoJ reversal; 7-9 yrs for Stone "extreme, excessive and grossly disproportionate"

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Jake Gibson ✔@JakeBGibson

The DOJ is changing its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, according to a Senior DOJ official.
“The Department finds seven to nine years extreme, excessive and grossly disproportionate," the source said, adding the DOJ will clarify its position on sentencing later today

11:40 AM - Feb 11, 2020

Link to tweet

Mimi Rocah ✔@Mimirocah1

There’s no way for this to look like anything other than a complete turnaround by DOJ to protect Trump’s political cronie at his demand. The use of DOJ as a political tool is proceeding at an alarming pace. @HouseDemocrats must act quickly.

Jake Gibson ✔@JakeBGibson

The DOJ is changing its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, according to a Senior DOJ official.
“The Department finds seven to nine years extreme, excessive and grossly disproportionate," the source said, adding the DOJ will clarify its position on sentencing later today

12:06 PM - Feb 11, 2020

Link to tweet

Renato Mariotti ✔@renato_mariotti

This is unheard of. The DOJ recommenced a sentence of seven to nine years *yesterday.*

Jake Gibson ✔@JakeBGibson

The DOJ is changing its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, according to a Senior DOJ official.
“The Department finds seven to nine years extreme, excessive and grossly disproportionate," the source said, adding the DOJ will clarify its position on sentencing later today

12:08 PM - Feb 11, 2020

[no_hypocrisy]

1. "Excessive?". Not enough IMO.

[47of74]

36. He should be sentenced to 600 years in prison

At the fucking minimum. And no goddamn club fed either.

[lagomorph777]

58. Definitely disproportionate. Way too LOW.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. If I were the sitting judge, I'd ask if rump had called into the DOJ, or if one of his cronies did,

to influence the setting of sentence?

[Arkansas Granny]

4. And if he did, what can be done about it? The Senate pretty much gave him a pass

and told him he won't be held accountable for anything.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. I don't know, undue influence in a trial sentencing, I guess everyone can write a ltr to the ...

judge at sentencing time, attesting to the character of the plaintiff, etc., like they do in the real world, but they openly (I am assuming) sign their letters and/or actually read them out loud in the sentencing phase of the trial. Judges do have a lot of power in sentencing guidelines...

[atreides1]

29. But the Judge makes the final decision

When it comes to sentencing, the DOJ can make recommendations, but the Judge in the case can ignore them and decide on a sentence that she has determined is appropriate.

And the judge in this case had a few problems with Stone not following her orders...so it's up to her, now!

[Grins]

53. He was charged with 7 counts. He was CONVICTED on ALL OF THEM!

SEVEN counts of tampering with a witness and lying to Congress. And it didn't take long for the jury to decide that!

[spanone]

3. So Barr is overriding the judge in the case????

CNN reporter called it 'extremely awkward'. Well, Fuck yea

[PRETZEL]

5. I don't think it's overriding Judge Sullivan,

it's more like Barr's making fools out of the DOJ attorney's that prosecuted the case.

(on edit)

my mistake, Judge Sullivan is sitting on the Flynn case. Judge Amy Berman Jackson is presiding on the Stone case.

[triron]

21. Hope Judge Jackson sees through this BS and fives Stone even more time.

Fuck this shit. Barr is 2nd most dangerous man in US.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. He's overriding his own prosecutors - they called for 7-9 yrs *only yesterday*

Link to tweet

Manu Raju ✔@mkraju

DOJ leadership overrules prosecutors who recommended 7-9 years for long-time Trump friend Roger Stone, calling it “excessive and grossly disproportionate to Stone’s offenses,” per @davidgshortell. Trump tweeted his anger at the sentencing recommendation overnight

Shimon Prokupecz ✔@ShimonPro

In light of the Roger Stone news here’s what AUSA Michael Marando told jurors in closing:

"Truth matters. Truth still matters. In our institutions of self-governance, committee hearings, courts of law ... truth still matters. You don't look at it and you don't say 'so what.'”

12:19 PM - Feb 11, 2020

[spanone]

8. Unfuckingbelievable

[malaise]

10. Time longer than rope

Please proceed Barr!

[spanone]

18. Yes it is....

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. Anyone here not see this coming?

Anyone?

[Dennis Donovan]

12. I figured it would go straight-to-pardon, like 10 mins after sentencing

...but this is worse, because it's a perfect illustration of how deeply compromised and corrupted DoJ has become.

Nixon's crew would get hard nipples watching these mfers...

[jimfields33]

15. I agree

This is a dumb move especially since pardon is most likely.

[LenaBaby61]

44. Saw it coming .....

Especially saw it coming with Flynn .... whose sentencing KEPT being delayed ....

So I guess Manafort and the rest will be getting off, and Leningrad, Barr, and the gang will try to prosecute Hunter Biden instead, with made-up or faked 'evidence.'

[DeminPennswoods]

11. They can recommend whatever they want, but

the judge will set the sentence as he sees fit.

[still_one]

13. +++

[DeminPennswoods]

14. The recommended sentence was based on the federal sentencing

guidelines and 7 yrs (84 months) is on the low end of the range.

[Zolorp]

24. As *She* sees fit.

Amy Berman Jackson

After this obvious tampering in the justice system, I would not be surprised if she gave him the maximum.

[LenaBaby61]

45. "The judge will set the sentence as he sees fit."

IF that judge stays on the case. It wouldn't shock me to see the current sitting judge removed for 'unknown' reasons.

Bottom line, Stone and Flynn will probably be getting off, and Hunter Biden being drug into court on trumped up charges. They can and will get away with what they want to for the time being. There is NO ONE to stop them. NO ONE.

Yep, he's learned his lesson you dingle berry Collins 🙄

[onenote]

48. She can ignore the revised recommendation, but if she does. Trump will use that as an excuse

to commute Stone's sentence.

[Nikki28]

16. my question

is what can Congress do about it. Can they impeach Barr to make a statement to Trump that this will not stand or have they been burned by impeachment? I am so sick of this depressing news. We will have a time defeating this when laws are being broken day after day by the minute.What can be done to get rid of Barr? He needs to go.Congress has a job to do and needs to do it. Bring in the criminal who says Barr was in the loop with other congress members. Just do something.We are watching a coup right before our eyes by a mad man.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

40. Calling for his resignation or moving to impeach Barr would have to be the remedy here

The "pipelining" that appears to have been established between Guiliani is the most troubling thing that needs to be addressed but changing recommendations on the apparent whims of Trump is extremely worrisome as well.

[Botany]

17. Caporegime Trump and Barr

The death of our democracy.

[Takket]

19. Has this ever happened in US history?

That DOJ intervened in its own case to reduce a sentence of someone found guilty before that sentance was even appealed? (I.e. DOJ did this by its own free will and not because of an appeal?)

[Zolorp]

20. The judge should now sentence the motherfucker to the maximum on each count...

to be served consecutively.

[Brainfodder]

22. Assholes protecting assholes? It should be double?

Ridiculous!

I'd ask to speak to the manager but... YIKES!

[uponit7771]

23. The independent lawyers that are part of the DOJ will be speaking up soon

[Dennis Donovan]

25. "In the movie version of this moment in history -- the movie where America wins at the end..."

Link to tweet

Rachel Maddow MSNBC✔@maddow

In the movie version of this moment in history -- the movie where America wins at the end -- this is the moment when a whole bunch of people resign.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-to-reduce-sentencing-recommendation-for-trump-associate-roger-stone-official-says-after-president-calls-it-unfair/2020/02/11/ad81fd36-4cf0-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html …
Justice Dept. to reduce sentencing recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone, official says,...
The move is a stunning rebuke of career prosecutors that will surely raise questions about political meddling in the case.

12:50 PM - Feb 11, 2020

[Faux pas]

26. Effing Assholes!

[wryter2000]

27. The judge isn't bound by this

Is she?

[SunSeeker]

30. She is not bound by it.

Hope she sees it is the craven Barr political meddling that it is.

[wryter2000]

33. Good

I hope she gives him the maximum

[OliverQ]

39. Even if she does Stone is still getting a pardon.

[LenaBaby61]

47. "Even if she does Stone is still getting a pardon."

Yep ....

[SunSeeker]

43. +1

[SunSeeker]

28. OMFG

[dalton99a]

31. The king is the judge and lawgiver - He will declare a sentence of zero

Very soon

Stone won't spend a day in jail.

[wryter2000]

35. Small correction

Judge is a she. I made the same mistake.

[Harker]

32. Stone is grossly disproportionate. n/t

[shelshaw]

34. Anyone else smell a sharpie?

[jayschool2013]

37. Nice courthouse you've got there

"I see you also have some money coming from the DOJ for a bunch of interns and some remodeling of your office. Great. I need you to do me a favor, though ..."

[sinkingfeeling]

38. MF45 and Barr strike again. Another bloody nose for the US.

[Maeve]

41. They didn't have to contact the WH to know what Der Deumpster wants

Barr know very well what he's supposed to do

[Andy823]

42. So does that mean

When we get control of the DOJ we can "increase" trumps sentence and "add" more jail time for him?

[MyOwnPeace]

46. Look at it this way............

Ol'buddy Rog will get to spend more time on the beach with Sheriff Joe!

Obviously America doesn't see anything wrong with pardons..............

[MrModerate]

49. This highlights not only how corrupt Trump's administration is, but also...

…how inept. Surely they saw this sentencing guideline coming? Why didn't they quash it earlier?

[orangecrush]

50. DICTATOR

Believe it now?

[greymattermom]

51. Just sentence him to

6 years. Make him be perfect to get out early.

[greenjar_01]

52. We live in a Clown Dictatorship

This is the last wall between the President and the DOJ. For him to be able to adjust sentencing recs of a duly convicted felon with random media statements tells you that it is all but over.

Next step is armed militias pulling you from your homes.

[orangecrush]

57. +1

[MsLeopard]

54. Riiiiight.....

But kids in cages isn’t extreme, excessive, nor grossly disproportionate to the “crime.”

We’re so far down the rabbit hole we may never be able to get out. Sigh.

[KPN]

55. It's time for a revolt! Flynn probation and now this?

I’m leaning more and more toward Bernie. We need a revolution. Half measures don’t work.

[ConstanceCee]

56. Let's Stop

Let's stop calling it the DOJ and call it what it is: Bill Barr. (Same with DOS.)

[Dennis Donovan]

59. "We are now at a break-glass-in-case-of-fire moment for the Justice Department"

Link to tweet

Rachel Maddow MSNBC ✔@maddow

Former counterintelligence chief at DOJ:

“We are now at a break-glass-in-case-of-fire moment for the Justice Department”

David Laufman @DavidLaufmanLaw'

A shocking, cram-down political intervention in the criminal justice process. We are now truly at a break-glass-in-case-of-fire moment for the Justice Dept.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-to-reduce-sentencing-recommendation-for-trump-associate-roger-stone-official-says-after-president-calls-it-unfair/2020/02/11/ad81fd36-4cf0-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html …

2:41 PM - Feb 11, 2020

[Dukkha]

60. So Twitter is now our court of appeals?

Get me the F**K off this planet already!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

61. Fat Donnie said seven to nine years was "not fair."

"Not fair" is the standard for every pardon he's issued thus far.

Have you ever seen a president meddle in the affairs of the DOJ as much as this one? You'd think he considers it part of his business, to carry out his every whim.

[yonder]

62. What's excessive are the people sentenced to years long sentences

for possession of small amounts of weed or other victimless misdemeanors. Sometimes they are not even in possession but the listed owners of homes, cars, etc. where weed was found. There are cases of Grandmas sent up because their grand kids were found with weed while in Grandma's house. That is excessive.

I'll add my voice to the "this is a bunch of bullshit chorus" for any good it can do.

Being wealthy with time to commit fraud involving money, corruption, graft, bribery, etc. -- you're good to go or we'll get you out of there. Misdemeanor violations involving no harm to others? Pay the price motherfuckers, it's the LAW!