Andrew Weissmann: We Can Still Get the Truth From Roger Stone

[dajoki]

We Can Still Get the Truth From Roger Stone
The Justice Department should vindicate the rule of law by putting him before a grand jury.
By Andrew Weissmann
Mr. Weissmann was a senior prosecutor in the Mueller investigation.
July 14, 2020, 5:00 a.m. ET
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/opinion/roger-stone-trump-grand-jury.html

Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly opposed President Trump’s commutation of Roger Stone’s prison sentence for seven felonies — the latest act by this administration to undermine the rule of law. If Mr. Barr’s resistance is to be believed, the Department of Justice still has a path to vindicate the rule of law by putting Mr. Stone before a grand jury.

In November 2019, a federal jury unanimously found Mr. Stone guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, of lying to Congress about the coordination between the Trump 2016 campaign, Mr. Stone, WikiLeaks and Russia. The seven counts included five of perjury and one count each of obstruction of Congress and tampering with a witness. Mr. Stone was sentenced to spend 40 months in prison until he got his reward for keeping his lips sealed.

This does not have to be the end of the story.

Prosecutors are well armed to get to the bottom of what Mr. Stone knows but has refused to disclose. If there was nothing nefarious about his coordination efforts, why did he lie about them to Congress? This question remains unanswered, as the Mueller report notes.

In spite of the president’s commutation, prosecutors can seek to discover the answer by calling Mr. Stone before a grand jury. Grand juries are used every day all across the country, at the federal and state levels, to investigate potential criminal matters.

snip//

[genxlib]

1. Why would anyone think

That he would even show up?

Or if he did answer questions?

Or if he did, take it seriously?

Or if he did, be truthful?

He was a lying, braying jackass even before he thought he was untouchable. He is going to be even less cooperative and more insufferable now.

[NoRWNJ]

2. Is it up to Barr?

Is putting Stone before a grand jury something that AG Barr needs to approve before it goes forward? Of can any Federal prosecutor do it on their own?

[dajoki]

9. Federal later, state now...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/opinion/roger-stone-trump-grand-jury.html

snip//

And federal charges need not be lodged until, say, Jan. 20, 2021. State charges could be brought sooner.

snip//

[Me.]

3. Calling Him Before A Grand Jury

will force Barr to show his true colors regarding this matter

[Hotler]

4. He needs an old school NECON rendition.

3-days in a cold dark hole in a black op's site half a world away and he will spill everything.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. Two questions:

1. Will it involve torture?
2. And if so, how can I sign up for the job?

[2naSalit]

7. +1

I'd rather just watch...

[soothsayer]

6. I prefer the other idea to arrest him on state charges

[Nevilledog]

8. With Barr leading the DOJ this is nothing but fiction.

[dajoki]

10. Could happen...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/opinion/roger-stone-trump-grand-jury.html

snip//

And federal charges need not be lodged until, say, Jan. 20, 2021. State charges could be brought sooner.

snip/

[Nevilledog]

11. I hope so. I think Barr's supposed "outrage was manufactured. They won't touch Stone.

I trust Biden to choose a worthy AG.

[dajoki]

13. I'm counting on it n/t

[Ghost Dog]

12. Fact is he was found to be a fabulator.

There was no, none, zilch, zero Wikileaks collusion.