General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRoger Stone was on his way to jail.
Yesterday, Donald Trump commuted his sentence.
Although the president has the authority to pardon or to commute sentences of a judge and jury, he does not have the right to do so to protect his own criminality. That is obstruction of justice.
It was an overt criminal act. Roger Stone had been found guilty.
Why a commutation rather than a pardon? Is it because of the Fifth Amendment restrictions of a pardon? After a pardon, one cannot claim Fifth Amendment rights when questioned under oath.
Today, Donald Trump is tweeting his usual BS about how Stone was innocent and it was all part of the "Russian Hoax". The jury that found him guilty did not think so.
Did Stone bribe Trump to get his commutation? Trump knew he had information that would show criminality and knowledge on his part. So, it was an agreement between the two men to protect each other from criminal prosecution and punishment.
At least temporarily, some people are above the law.
Chainfire
(17,757 posts)is that in the Trumpian universe, not only is the president above the law, but so are his friends, family and co-conspirators and it appears that there is not a damn thing we can do about it. The powers of the office of the President were granted based upon the theory that a President would use them for the good of the nation, not for personal gain. The founders could not have imagined that someone so devoid of morals would ever be elected.
Trump sends a message; if you do my dirty work, if you keep your mouth shut, you are immune from the consequences. These kind of actions, and the precedent they set, will have consequences long after Trump leaves office.
kentuck
(111,111 posts)The "rule of law" will never be the same.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)Can it ever by restored? I have no idea.
Lock him up.
(6,971 posts)... clearly shows he equates being POTUS to being KINGOTUS.
MAKE JUSTICE GREAT AGAIN
RICO TRUMPS & ACCOMPLICES
THEN LOCK THEM ALL UP!!1!1!
Buckeyeblue
(5,509 posts)In the post-Trump world where he doesn't have protection.
iluvtennis
(19,942 posts)duforsure
(11,885 posts)Not only will this all backfire on him, it'll just make more judges and justices more likely to make sure trump and his criminals ARE held fully accountable , and putting a stop to his , and their ongoing crime sprees. This can go on much longer if they do nothing stopping this now.
ResistantAmerican17
(3,886 posts)isnt that de facto witness tampering?? Especially given Stones comment last night about not turning on drumph.
sure why not
(39 posts)Stone was asking for a new trial, so he commuted his sentence.
I say he should have that new trial, beginning in mid-January 2021. (Do you see where I'm going?)
There is no chance in hell that President Biden will give him a pardon or commute his sentence.
Hugin
(33,284 posts)In combination with Cohen being sent back into the COVID stew.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)of the numerous slimebags that surround tRump. He was the one who led that Brooks Brothers raid on Florida, to prevent the counting of votes to prove Al Gore won the state. His back has a large tattoo of his first hero, Richard Nixon. There is no way he will be able to work within the law to finance his lifestyle. Little bastard should have been in prison years ago. I wish him nothing but bad luck in the future. Like tRump, he is just as ugly inside as he is outside.
eppur_se_muova
(36,327 posts)NNadir
(33,621 posts)...jailed.
Obstruction of justice is the least of their crimes.
malaise
(269,709 posts)The end is nigh
Lock him up.
(6,971 posts)I can't believe nobody (I saw) invoked it yet.
MAKE JUSTICE GREAT AGAIN
RICO TRUMPs & ACCOMPLICES
THEN LOCK THEM ALL UP!!*&%!
malaise
(269,709 posts)is the remedy
Smackdown2019
(1,195 posts)As much I wish this never of happened.... perhaps it has spared some time to ensure the Nutty Stone be around to face more music under a different administration that will not protect him. By then, he will still have a conviction that will ensure the light of day never be seen from a dark cell prison.
He knows what happened!
He knows where, when and who were involved!
The sorry piece of !@#$, will know this.
His plight of freedom is still in jeopardy.
RVN VET71
(2,708 posts)Remember, if Trump loses in November, he'll still be our Supreme Pontiff until January, during which time he will shamelessly issue pardons for everyone, including himself, who may have been connected with criminal/treasonous activities during his administration -- or even before. Thus, he will likely issue pre-emptive pardons for his principle family members: Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric, plus Manafort (unless Manafort is in prison on state charges/convictions), Flynn, Stone, and etc.
And the pardons will basically free them from prison, but it won't free them from being deposed -- and without the 5th Amendment protections against self incrimination -- and that might well be the most interesting thing to happen after Trump leaves office: just a line of crooks and traitors answering to their crimes, one after the other, with the occasional charge of perjury for anyone too nervous or lacking the depth of shame that Trump has to actually admit their complicity in treasonable acts. The MSM will be all over it; the books will be all over Amazon; and, I confess, I'll be watching until the drone of treasonous acts and governmental and financial misfeasance just gets too boring.
But most of these crooks and traitors are going to walk away rich and free and the only comfort we can take is that, at least, they will walk away.