Court Sentences Roger Stone to 3 Years and 4 Months
Trump's 'Anger' Matches Revised Sentence Request
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Roger Stone, a political consultant and close aide to U.S. President Donald Trump, was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison. This sentence is significantly reduced compared to the initial prosecution request.
On the 20th (local time), Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found Stone guilty on seven charges and sentenced him to a total of 40 months in prison.
This sentence corresponds to the 3 to 4 years range newly proposed after the Department of Justice withdrew its original recommendation of 7 to 9 years. Judge Jackson stated regarding the ruling, "The 7 to 9 years initially recommended by the Department of Justice was excessive."
However, Judge Jackson did not accept Stone's lawyers' requests for probation and supervised release, which were based on his advanced age, health, and first-time offender status.
Stone is the origin of the recent controversy surrounding President Trump's judicial intervention. When prosecutors sought a heavy sentence of 7 to 9 years for Stone on the 10th, President Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction, and subsequently, the Department of Justice reduced the sentencing recommendation.
Stone was a closest aide who acted as Trump's "unofficial advisor" during the 2016 presidential election. He was indicted on seven charges including making false statements, witness tampering, and obstruction of official duties related to President Trump's Russia scandal.
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